Fan with Metal Mute Ring and Alternating Blades for Airflow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fan designs in notebooks are limited by the thickness and number of blades due to mold and production processes, which affect performance, and mute rings made of plastic are similarly constrained, reducing the working area and further impairing performance.
Innovation Solution
A fan design that incorporates a metal mute ring with reduced thickness and additional plastic blades alternately arranged with metal blades, utilizing a combination of materials and manufacturing processes to increase blade count without altering the original structure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If plastic blades are used with mold and injection molding process, then manufacturing is easier, but blade thickness and height are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from plastic to metal for the blades, enabling greater thickness and height while maintaining manufacturability through appropriate metal forming processes
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite construction by combining metal blades with plastic components (hub, mute ring), leveraging the advantages of both materials: metal for structural strength and thickness, plastic for manufacturing ease and cost-effectiveness
2Length of moving object
If metal blades are used, then blade thickness and height can be increased, but production process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges metal blades with plastic hub and mute ring components into a single integrated fan assembly, simplifying the overall production process by combining different manufacturing steps into a coordinated assembly operation
Solution Approach 2:
The mute ring serves multiple functions: it connects the blades to the hub, provides structural support, and acts as a sound-dampening element, thereby reducing the need for separate components and simplifying the production process
3Ease of manufacture
If plastic mute ring is used, then manufacturing is simpler, but mute ring thickness is limited and working area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter of the mute ring from plastic to metal, enabling reduced thickness while maintaining structural integrity and increasing the working area for blade operation
Data Source
AI summary
A fan and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The fan includes a hub having a circumference, a plurality of first blades, a mute ring and a plurality of second blades. Each of the plurality of first blades includes a first terminal disposed at the circumference of the hub and a second terminal opposite to the first terminal. The mute ring is disposed at the second terminal of each of the plurality of first blades. The plurality of second blades are disposed at the second terminal of each of the plurality of first blades and connected to the mute ring, wherein the plurality of second blades and the plurality of first blades are alternately arranged.