Heater Box Cooler Layout for Thin Depth and Fan Failure Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coolers for heater-containing boxes are bulky, require multiple fans that can fail simultaneously, and have complex configurations leading to manufacturing and maintenance challenges, with issues of air-flow resistance and temperature distribution.
Innovation Solution
A cooler design with inside and outside air paths and fans aligned parallel to air intake, a heat exchanger with curved air-path-retaining-members, and a control unit for fan operation, allowing for thinner depth and improved air-flow resistance management, along with shared temperature detection and simplified manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the rotating shaft of the fan is perpendicular to the air intake direction, then the fan can effectively move air, but the depth of the cooler is restricted by the fan diameter resulting in a larger size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional fan orientation by aligning the rotating shaft parallel to the air intake direction rather than perpendicular. This inversion allows the fan to be positioned such that its rotating shaft extends in the depth direction of the cooler, enabling the air intake surface to be aligned with the front surface of the cooler and significantly reducing the required depth.
2Productivity
If one inside air fan and one outside air fan are provided, then air circulation is achieved, but the cooling device cannot function when either fan is broken
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs both fans with identical structures and interchangeable configurations, allowing either fan to perform both inside air circulation and outside air exhaust functions. This universal design ensures that if one fan fails, the remaining fan can continue to operate by handling both air paths, maintaining cooling functionality.
3Temperature
If conventional heat exchanger with straight air paths is used, then heat exchange occurs, but air-flow resistance increases and temperature distribution becomes uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces curved air-path-retaining members that form arc-shaped air paths within the heat exchanger, replacing conventional straight air paths. This curvature design guides air flow more smoothly through the heat exchange channels, reducing turbulence and air-flow resistance while improving temperature distribution uniformity across the heat exchange surface.
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 cooler achieves a thinner profile, maintains air-path height, suppresses air-flow resistance, ensures cooling functionality even with fan failures, and simplifies manufacturing and maintenance.
Implementation Method 1
Heat exchanger 304, which is arranged at the intersection of the air paths and exchanges sensible heat of the outside air and the inside air
Implementation Method 2
outside air fan 303B for conveying air in outside air path 309 and inside air fan 303A for conveying air in inside air path 305
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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AI summary
There is provided a cooler for heater-containing box in which an outside air fan for carrying air on an outside air path and an inside air fan for carrying air on an inside air path are arranged such that a rotating shaft of each fan is in parallel with an air intake direction, and a heat exchanger for exchanging sensible heat of outside air and inside air is arranged between the outside air path and the inside air path such that a suction port at a longitudinal air-path side of the heat exchanger is aligned with a blowout port of the fan. The cooler for heater-containing box capable of making the depth thinner can be provided.