Fan Bracket Hooks Hold Heat Sink Without Concaves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fan brackets require additional complex structures on heat sinks, increasing manufacturing costs and complexity, as they need concaves and engaging structures for attachment to heat-producing components.
Innovation Solution
A fan bracket design with inwardly extending hooks and outwardly extending engaging portions that hold a heat sink in place without requiring concaves or additional engaging structures on the heat sink, using fasteners to mount directly to a printed circuit board.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional fan bracket design with arm portions and hooks is used to attach heat sink, then the heat sink can be mounted onto the fan bracket, but concaves need to be carved in the heat sink and engaging structures need to be arranged on the heat sink, which complicates the manufacture of the heat sink and increases the cost
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of having the heat sink provide engaging structures (concaves and engaging portions) to receive the fan bracket hooks, the invention inverts the engagement mechanism by having the fan bracket housing directly engage with the heat sink outer surface through protruding engaging portions that extend from the housing. This eliminates the need for concaves in the heat sink, simplifying its manufacturing while maintaining secure attachment.
2Reliability
If conventional fan bracket design is used, then the heat dissipating fan can be attached to the heat sink, but additional fasteners and engaging structures are required on the heat sink, which further complicates the manufacture and increases cost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the fan bracket housing with multiple functional elements: the housing simultaneously provides structural support, defines the circular hole for fan/heat sink accommodation, provides engaging portions for direct heat sink attachment, and extends arm portions for mounting to the heat producing component. This integration eliminates the need for separate engaging structures and fasteners on the heat sink, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining secure mounting.
3Ease of operation
If hooks extend inwardly from arm portions, then the heat sink can be engaged, but the heat sink structure is complicated requiring concaves and engaging structures
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the traditional engagement approach by having the fan bracket housing provide outwardly extending engaging portions that directly engage the outer surface of the heat sink, rather than having the heat sink provide inwardly extending concaves to receive hooks. This simplifies heat sink manufacturing as it requires no special cavity formation, while the hooks on the arm portions still provide effective engagement for mounting stability.
Data Source
AI summary
A heat dissipation apparatus (100) includes a fan bracket (20), a fan (10) and a heat sink (40). The fan bracket includes a housing (22), a support portion (242) extending from the housing, and a plurality of arm portions (244) extending from the housing in a direction opposite to the support portion. Each of the arm portions includes an engaging portion (244a) extending outwardly therefrom, engaging with a fastener (30) to mount the heat dissipation apparatus to a printed circuit board (50). At least two arm portions each include a hook (244c) extending inwardly therefrom. The fan is attached to the support portion of the fan bracket. The heat sink is held between the arm portions of the fan bracket with a bottom surface of the heat sink engaging with the hooks.