Cooling Fan Impeller Separation Prevention

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooling fans require complex assembly processes and additional parts to prevent impeller separation, which increases the number of components and complicates the installation, while also potentially obstructing air discharge ports.

Innovation Solution

A cooling fan design that integrates a separation prevention bar into the mounting bracket, allowing the impeller to rotate without interference and minimizing the area blocking the air discharge port, thus eliminating the need for separate parts and simplifying the assembly process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an escape prevention ring is mounted on the rotary shaft to prevent impeller separation, then the impeller separation is prevented, but the number of parts increases and the assembly process becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpeller separation preventionVSAvoidassembly process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The escape prevention function is merged into the fan housing structure itself. The housing includes a protrusion that extends into the rotation space, forming an escape prevention ridge that prevents impeller separation without requiring a separate escape prevention ring. This integration eliminates additional parts and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining the reliability function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If an escape prevention ring is mounted on the rotary shaft, then the impeller separation is prevented, but the number of parts increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpeller separation preventionVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The escape prevention function is merged into the fan housing structure itself. The housing includes a protrusion that extends into the rotation space, forming an escape prevention ridge that prevents impeller separation without requiring a separate escape prevention ring. This integration eliminates additional parts and simplifies the assembly process while maintaining the reliability function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a separation prevention structure is added to the fan housing, then the impeller separation is prevented, but the air discharge port area may be obstructed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpeller separation preventionVSAvoidair discharge port area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The escape prevention ridge is designed with specific geometric characteristics: it extends only partially into the rotation space and has a width that is optimized to prevent impeller separation while minimizing obstruction of the air discharge port. The local geometry of the ridge is carefully controlled to achieve the separation prevention function without significantly reducing the effective discharge area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3712437B1Cooling fan

Publication Date: 2024.05.15 AMOTECH CO LTD

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AI summary

A cooling fan includes: a fan housing mounted on a mounting bracket; a rotary shaft rotatably supported by the fan housing; a rotor fixed to the rotary shaft; a stator fixed to the fan housing and disposed at a predetermined gap from the rotor; an impeller connected to the rotor so as to rotate therewith; and a separation prevention member mounted at an edge on a front surface of the fan housing on which an air discharge port of the fan housing is formed, and protruding in an inward direction of the air discharge port so as to prevent the impeller from being separated from the fan housing, thereby preventing the separation of the impeller while minimizing the area blocking the air discharge port.