Pivotable Fan Assembly for Tool-less Hot Swap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fan placement in computer chassis systems along vertical sidewalls is inefficient, requiring constant operation and labor-intensive replacement, which consumes valuable space and increases downtime and costs, while alternative placements face serviceability challenges.
Innovation Solution
A pivotable fan assembly that can be mounted on the top or bottom cover of the chassis, allowing tool-less removal and replacement without altering side connections, enabling quick 'hot swap' without specialized tools.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If fans are mounted on vertical sidewalls of the chassis, then cooling function is provided, but replacement requires labor-intensive disassembly and specialized tools
Solution Approach 1:
The fan assembly is segmented into a fan unit and a mounting bracket assembly. The mounting bracket is further segmented with separate engagement features for the chassis. This segmentation allows the fan unit to be independently removed from the bracket without requiring disassembly of the bracket from the chassis, enabling tool-less fan replacement while maintaining secure installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The fan unit is extracted as a separate removable component from the mounting bracket assembly. The bracket remains permanently mounted to the chassis while the fan can be quickly detached and replaced. This extraction principle allows the fan to be replaced without removing the entire mounting structure or requiring specialized tools.
2Productivity
If conventional fan mounting is used on sidewalls, then cooling is provided, but valuable chassis space is consumed and replacement time is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket is pre-assembled and pre-positioned on the chassis before the fan is installed. The bracket includes pre-formed engagement features that align with chassis mounting points. This preliminary preparation of the mounting structure allows the fan to be quickly snap-installed or snap-removed without requiring time-consuming disassembly operations during replacement.
3Area of stationary object
If fans are placed on top or bottom covers, then chassis space is conserved, but serviceability becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting bracket incorporates dynamic engagement features that allow the fan assembly to be easily accessed. The bracket can be quickly detached from the chassis or the fan can be removed from the bracket without tools. This dynamic design maintains secure mounting during operation while enabling rapid serviceability when needed, resolving the contradiction between secure installation and easy maintenance.
Data Source
AI summary
A pivotable fan assembly includes a mounting frame, a panel, and a bracket. The panel can be coupled to the mounting frame at a first edge. The panel can pivot about the mounting frame between a first position and an angularly displaced second position. At least one fan assembly can be coupled to the bracket, which extends distally from the panel with a first pair of adjacent sides of the fan assembly bounded by the panel and the bracket and a second pair of adjacent sides of the fan assembly unbounded and exposed. When attached to a chassis cover, the panel can pivot to expose the fan assembly for tool-less replacement.