Fan-Cooled Unit Shield Deflecting Water Ingress
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fan-cooled units face challenges in preventing water ingress during use and testing, as existing vents are not impervious to fluids while maintaining airflow for heat exchange, leaving electronic components vulnerable, especially when powered down and the fan is off.
Innovation Solution
A shield with an outwardly projectable wall that covers the vent and has an opening to divert airflow, interfacing with the housing to create a seal and mitigate fluid ingress from directions other than the opening, while allowing airflow through the opening to maintain cooling functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a vent with grill or multi-apertured structure is used to enable airflow for cooling, then air flow is sufficient for heat exchange, but water ingress cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The vent structure is segmented into multiple functional layers: an outer shield with opening, a grill structure, and a fan unit. This segmentation allows each layer to perform a specific function - the shield provides water protection, the grill enables airflow, and the fan provides cooling, resolving the contradiction between water protection and cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The shield acts as an intermediary element between the external environment and the internal vent structure. It redirects water away from the vent while allowing air to pass through to the fan, mediating between the conflicting requirements of water protection and airflow
2Reliability
If the fan is located on the internal side of the vent to protect it from external objects, then the fan is protected from damage, but water can still ingress through the vent
Solution Approach 1:
The shield provides preliminary protection by redirecting water away from the vent before water can reach the fan. This preliminary anti-action prevents water from approaching the vulnerable areas, complementing the fan's protected location
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a shield structure is added to prevent water ingress, then water protection is improved, but airflow may be impeded
Solution Approach 1:
The shield is designed with localized features: the opening is positioned and sized to provide water protection while maintaining airflow. The shield's geometry is optimized so that water droplets are redirected away from the vent while air molecules can pass through to reach the fan, achieving both protection and airflow
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 shield effectively deflects water droplets and showers from entering the vent, maintaining airflow and protecting electronic components from liquid ingress, even when the housing is tilted up to 15 degrees, thus enhancing protection against water ingress during testing and use.
Implementation Method 1
The shield effectively deflects water droplets and showers from entering the vent
Implementation Method 2
an opening configured for communicating with the interfacing side which, in use, diverts airflow to or from the vent or fan-cooled unit in use
Data Source
AI summary
A shield for a vent or cooling-fan opening in a housing for electronic components. The shield includes an outwardly projectable wall for substantially covering the vent or cooling-fan opening and, at edges of the wall, interfacing with the housing. The shield includes an opening for communicating with a vent or cooling-fan unit to divert airflow to or from the vent or fan-cooled opening while ingress of fluid is mitigated by the outwardly projectable wall.