Cooling Fan with Reverse Rotation Dust Removal
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling fans suffer from dust accumulation inside the housing, which reduces air output and requires regular manual cleaning, affecting the heat dissipating effect.
Innovation Solution
A cooling fan design with a housing featuring an air inlet, air outlet, and dust channel, where the impeller rotates in reverse to expel dust through the dust channel, preventing it from re-entering the housing, and a control element with a driving circuit and rotating direction control circuit to manage the impeller's direction for both cooling and dust removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If the cooling fan operates for a period of time, then dust accumulates inside the housing between the fins, but this reduces air output and requires manual cleaning
Solution Approach 1:
The impeller is designed to rotate in reverse direction for dust removal. During normal cooling operation, the impeller rotates in a first direction to draw air through the fins. Periodically, the control circuit reverses the rotation to a second direction, creating negative pressure that draws air (and accumulated dust) through the dust channel, effectively cleaning the fins without manual intervention
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling fan system performs self-cleaning through automated reverse rotation. The control circuit automatically triggers reverse rotation at predetermined intervals, allowing the fan to remove its own accumulated dust through the dust channel and air outlet, eliminating the need for external manual cleaning and maintaining consistent air output over extended service life
2Duration of action of moving object
If the cooling fan operates continuously, then dust accumulates on the impeller blades and housing, but this adversely affects heat dissipating effect
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit implements periodic reverse rotation at predetermined intervals during continuous operation. This periodic action creates cycles of dust removal that prevent significant accumulation on impeller blades and housing surfaces, maintaining consistent airflow and heat dissipating effectiveness throughout extended continuous operation periods
Solution Approach 2:
The reverse rotation for dust removal is performed periodically before dust accumulation significantly degrades performance. By proactively removing dust at predetermined intervals, the system prevents adverse effects on heat dissipating effect rather than reacting to performance degradation
3Extent of automation
If a dust channel is added to the housing, then automatic dust removal is enabled, but the housing structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The housing is designed with multi-functionality: the dust channel serves dual purposes by providing both a pathway for dust removal during reverse rotation and structural support within the housing. The air outlet serves dual functions by expelling both cooling air during normal operation and dust-laden air during reverse rotation, eliminating the need for separate dedicated components
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 automatic dust removal ensures reliable air input and output, enhances the heat dissipating effect, and prolongs the service life of electronic products by preventing dust accumulation and maintaining airflow efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the impeller is controlled to rotate in a reverse direction to generate negative pressure inside the housing, so as to draw air currents to a predetermined location along with dust
Data Source
AI summary
A cooling fan includes a sidewall coupled to a base of a housing and defining a compartment. The housing includes an air inlet, an air outlet, and a dust channel. The air inlet, the air outlet, and the dust channel are in communication with the compartment. An impeller is rotatably coupled to a stator coupled to the base. A control element includes a driving circuit electrically connected to the stator and a rotating direction control circuit electrically connected to the driving circuit. The air outlet and the dust channel separate an inner periphery of the sidewall into first and second guiding wall sections. The first guiding wall section has a guiding portion contiguous to the dust channel. A first spacing between the guiding portion and a center of the impeller is not larger than a second spacing between the second guiding wall section and the center of the impeller.