Heat Dissipating Fan with Dust Channel and Reverse Rotation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional heat dissipating fans suffer from dust accumulation, which reduces air output and requires regular manual cleaning, adversely affecting their heat dissipating efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A heat dissipating fan design with a housing featuring an air inlet, air outlet, and a dust channel, where an impeller is controlled to rotate in reverse directions to draw in ambient air for dust removal, ensuring continuous operation and enhanced heat dissipation without manual intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If the fan operates continuously to dissipate heat, then heat dissipation efficiency is improved, but dust accumulates inside the housing reducing air output

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidair output
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The fan operates in periodic cycles, alternating between heat dissipation mode (first rotating direction) and dust removal mode (second rotating direction). The control circuit automatically switches between these two functions at predetermined time intervals, allowing the fan to maintain high heat dissipation efficiency during operation while periodically clearing accumulated dust to preserve air output capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

2Reliability

If manual cleaning is performed regularly to remove dust, then air output is maintained, but operational continuity is interrupted and maintenance complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveair outputVSAvoidmaintenance requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The fan performs self-maintenance by automatically removing its own dust accumulation. When switched to the second rotating direction, the fan draws air through the dust channel that passes over the impeller blades and internal housing surfaces, effectively self-cleaning the dust that would otherwise reduce performance. This eliminates the need for external manual cleaning intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the impeller rotates in reverse direction for dust removal, then dust is dispelled automatically, but heat dissipation function is temporarily suspended

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedust removalVSAvoidheat dissipation
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The control circuit manages the transition between heat dissipation and dust removal functions by switching the impeller rotation direction at optimized time intervals. During normal operation, the fan rotates in the first direction for heat dissipation. After a predetermined operational period, it automatically switches to the second direction for dust removal, then returns to the first direction to resume heat dissipation, thereby minimizing the impact on overall thermal management while maintaining cleanliness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

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 fan effectively removes dust automatically, maintaining reliable air input and output, thereby enhancing the heat dissipating effect and prolonging the service life of electronic products.

Implementation Method 1

An impeller is rotatably mounted in the housing and driven by a driving unit also mounted in the housing to draw in ambient air via the air inlet. The air currents drawn into the housing are concentrated before exiting the air outlet to a heat source in an electronic product.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpeller rotation: Impeller

Implementation Method 2

When the rotating direction control circuit controls the impeller to rotate in a second direction reverse to the first direction, ambient air currents are drawn in via the air inlet and then exit the housing via the dust channel to dispel dust accumulated inside the housing.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpeller rotation: Impeller

Implementation Method 3

dust carried by the air currents is liable to accumulate inside the housing at the air inlet, the air outlet, the blades of the impeller, etc.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDust accumulation: Sedimentation

Data Source

PatentEP2299122B1Heat dissipating fan
Publication Date: 2018.03.14 SUNONWEALTH ELECTRIC MACHINE IND CO LTD
  • EP2299122B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2299122B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2299122B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A heat dissipating fan includes a housing (1) having a base (11) and a sidewall (12) coupled to the base (11). The sidewall (12) defines a compartment (121). The housing (1) further includes an air inlet (122), an air outlet (123), and a dust channel (124). The air inlet (122), the air outlet (123), and the dust channel (124) are in communication with the compartment (121). A stator (2) is coupled to the base (11) of the housing (1). An impeller (3) is rotatably coupled to the stator (2). A control element (4) includes a driving circuit (41) electrically connected to the stator (2) and a rotating direction control circuit (42) electrically connected to the driving circuit (41). In another embodiment, the heat dissipating fan includes a housing (5) having a base (51) and a lateral wall (52) coupled to the base (51). The lateral wall (52) defines a compartment (521). The lateral wall (52) includes an air inlet (522) and an air outlet (523) both in communication with the compartment (521). The air inlet (522) also acts as a dust channel.