Fan Assembly Fixing Cover and Flexible Arm Design

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heat dissipating fan devices require different connectors for various electric apparatuses, leading to increased manufacturing costs, time, and vibration noise due to improper housing design, and difficulty in monitoring fan device statuses.

Innovation Solution

A fan device with a detachable fixing cover and flexible arm design that accommodates different connectors without changing the entire housing, and incorporates a light guide pillar for improved status indication and vibration reduction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If different connectors are installed on different housings to fit various electric apparatuses, then connector compatibility is improved, but manufacturing cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnector compatibilityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost and time

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into two parts: a universal base housing and a detachable fixing cover. The base housing remains the same for all applications, while the fixing cover is customized for different connector types. This segmentation allows one housing design to support multiple connector types without requiring separate housings for each, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base housing is designed with universal functionality to accommodate different connector types through the detachable fixing cover mechanism. The housing structure itself remains unchanged and universal, while the fixing cover provides the specific connector interface needed for different electric apparatuses. This multi-functionality eliminates the need to produce multiple housing variants.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Area of stationary object

If fan devices are installed tight within the server rack to save space, then space utilization is improved, but vibration noise increases and device lifetime decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidvibration noise

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

A flexible arm is introduced between the fan device housing and the server rack mounting structure. This flexible arm acts as a vibration isolation element that decouples the fan device from direct mechanical contact with the rack and adjacent fan devices. The flexibility of the arm allows it to absorb and dampen vibrations generated by rotating impellers, thereby reducing transmitted vibration noise and mechanical stress on the fan device, while still maintaining compact space utilization within the rack.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If light sources are fastened on housings to indicate fan device operation status, then status monitoring is improved, but housing size and material consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatus monitoringVSAvoidhousing size

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The light source is nested within the existing housing structure rather than being mounted externally. The light guide pillar is integrated into the housing, with the light source positioned inside the housing cavity. This nesting approach allows the status indication function to be incorporated without increasing the overall housing volume or requiring additional external mounting space, thereby maintaining compact design while enabling effective status monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Reduces manufacturing costs and time by allowing the same housing to fit different connectors, minimizes vibration noise, and enhances status monitoring through improved light guidance, ensuring efficient heat dissipation and extended fan device lifespan.

Implementation Method 1

incorporates a light guide pillar for improved status indication

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight guidance: Optical Fibre

Implementation Method 2

dissipate heat generated from operating electric apparatuses would be dissipated by a force convection generated from fan devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectForce convection: Forced Convection

Implementation Method 3

the housing includes a flexible arm including a protruding portion

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration reduction: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9163637B2Fan assembly and fan device thereof

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 DELTA ELECTRONICS INC(CN)

AI summary

A fan assembly and its fan device are provided. The fan device includes a housing, a fan body disposed in the housing, a connector electrically connected with the fan body, and a fixing cover detachably assembled to the housing. The fixing cover includes a connecting structure fitting a type of the connector for positioning the connector on the fixing cover.