Parallel Fan Connection Structure With Snap-Fit Joint Connectors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parallel fan structures face challenges in easy, accurate, and efficient electrical connection, hindered by protruding terminal blocks that obstruct airflow and require manual alignment, leading to inefficiencies and noise.
Innovation Solution
A connection structure for fans featuring grooves with integrated terminal blocks and a modular joint member that allows snap-together electrical connection without conductors, ensuring easy, quick, and accurate alignment in any direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If terminal blocks are directly provided on outer sides of fan frames for electrical connection, then electrical connection between fans is achieved, but the terminal blocks protrude from frames which hinders air flow and causes noise
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal blocks are extracted from the fan frames and relocated to a separate joint member. This extraction removes the harmful protruding elements from the airflow path while preserving the electrical connection function through the joint member that connects to the grooves on fan frames.
Solution Approach 2:
A joint member is introduced as an intermediary component between two fans. This joint member contains the terminal blocks and provides electrical connection, while connecting to grooves on the fan frames. The intermediary structure prevents direct protrusion from fan frames into the airflow path.
2Ease of manufacture
If terminal blocks are directly provided on fan frames, then electrical connection is possible, but users must manually align pins which is uneasy and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The joint member is pre-configured with connectors that correspond to the terminal blocks. The grooves on fan frames are pre-formed to receive the joint member. This preliminary configuration enables automatic alignment when components are assembled, eliminating the need for manual pin alignment during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection structure is designed to self-align through the groove-joint member interface. When the joint member is inserted into the grooves on fan frames, the connectors automatically align with the terminal blocks, allowing the system to self-assemble without requiring manual alignment operations by the user.
3Reliability
If terminal blocks must be positioned in correct direction for connection, then proper electrical connection is achieved, but users need to try alignment repeatedly which lowers operating efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The joint member and groove structure incorporates asymmetric features that provide directional guidance. The connectors on the joint member are positioned to match the asymmetric arrangement of terminal blocks in the grooves, ensuring that only one orientation allows proper engagement. This asymmetric design prevents incorrect alignment attempts and ensures correct connection orientation on first attempt.
4Ease of operation
If a modular joint member is used to connect fans, then connection is easy and quick, but the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The joint member merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides structural connection between fan frames through groove engagement, electrical connection through integrated terminal blocks and connectors, and mechanical support. This merging reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall structure despite the enhanced functionality of the joint member itself.
Data Source
AI summary
A connection structure for fans operating in parallel is disclosed and includes two fans and a joint member. The fans respectively have an outer frame, a groove is formed on each of sides of the outer frame; and the grooves on two correspondingly faced sides of the two fans are respectively provided with a fan terminal block therein. The joint member is provided between the two fans to engage with the grooves on the correspondingly faced two sides of the fans. The joint member is provided on two lateral sides thereof at positions corresponding to the fan terminal blocks in the grooves on the two fans with a connector each for electrically connecting to the fan terminal blocks. The fans can be one-by-one snapped together by the joint member that is modularized for wirelessly electrically connecting the two fans in parallel in an easy, quick and accurate manner.