Fan Airflow Guiding Component with Expanded Inlet for Blockage Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional fans experience airflow blockage and excessive noise due to molding limitations at the connections between the frame and ribs or static blades, which hinder efficient heat dissipation in electronic devices.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an airflow guiding component with an outwardly expanded part and a cylindrical passageway, featuring a taper angle or bevel angle to prevent blockages and increase airflow areas, along with a motor base and impeller, to enhance airflow efficiency and reduce noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ribs or static blades are used to connect the motor base and frame, then structural support is provided, but airflow blockage and excessive noise occur due to molding limitations at connection points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidairflow blockage and noise

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The connection points between ribs/static blades and the frame are extracted and redesigned as rounded features rather than sharp corners. This removes the molding limitation issues at connection points, eliminating airflow blockage and excessive noise while maintaining structural support functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Rounded connection points are implemented at the interfaces between ribs/static blades and the frame. The curved geometry eliminates sharp corners that cause airflow separation and noise, while the rounded features naturally accommodate molding limitations and improve airflow characteristics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional fan design with ribs or static blades is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but airflow efficiency is reduced due to blockages at connection points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidairflow efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The rounded connection points maintain manufacturing simplicity by using standard molding techniques while eliminating airflow blockages. The curved geometry is easily incorporated into existing manufacturing processes and significantly improves airflow efficiency by preventing separation and turbulence at connection points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If fan speed is increased to improve heat dissipation, then heat dissipation performance improves, but noise increases due to airflow blockage at connection points

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat dissipation performanceVSAvoidnoise

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Rounded connection points eliminate airflow separation and turbulence that cause noise at high speeds. This allows the fan to operate at higher speeds for improved heat dissipation performance without the penalty of excessive noise generation from blocked airflow at connection points.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of high-speed operation (which would amplify noise from blocked airflow) into a benefit by using rounded connection points that eliminate the blockage. This enables high-speed operation for better heat dissipation while converting what would be a noise-generating problem into a smooth airflow path.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

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 solution increases airflow pressure and volume while reducing noise and airflow speed, effectively addressing the issues of blockage and noise in conventional fans, resulting in improved heat dissipation performance.

Implementation Method 1

The impeller is disposed on the motor base

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpeller rotation: Impeller

Implementation Method 2

The outwardly expanded part is connected with the frame and disposed at the airflow inlet or the airflow outlet for increasing areas of intake airflow or discharge airflow

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure expansion: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 3

The airflow guiding component is disposed between the frame and the motor base. One end of the airflow guiding component is connected with the motor base, and the other end is connected with an inner surface of the cylindrical passageway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFlow guidance:

Data Source

PatentUS7429162B2Fan

Publication Date: 2008.09.30 DELTA ELECTRONICS INC(CN)

AI summary

A fan includes a frame, a motor base, an impeller, an airflow guiding component, and at least one outwardly expanded part. The motor base is disposed in the frame, and the impeller is disposed on the motor base. The outwardly expanded part, connected with the frame, is disposed at an airflow inlet or an airflow outlet, for increasing areas of intake airflow or discharge airflow. One end of the airflow guiding component is connected with the motor base, and the other end is connected with an inner surface of the frame, instead of being connected with the outwardly expanded part, to prevent the fan from forming blocks on the frame during molding process.