Fan Module

• US 20020094283A1
• Filed: 10/15/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Siemens Computers GmbH (Fujitsu Limited)
• Inventors: Baumgaertner, Thomas, Salmen, Reinhard
• Application Number:
  US09/976,160
• Publication Number:
  US 20020094283A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 417/360
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/0613 the electric motor being of the inside-out type, i.e. the rotor is arranged radially outside a central stator
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/0693 Details or arrangements of the wiring
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/601 specially adapted for elastic fluid pumps

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fan module (10) that is comprised of a stationary fan element (1) and of a movable fan element (2) that has the ability to rotate. The fan module (10) has contact surfaces (5) on an outside lateral surface (4) that can be used to supply an operating voltage to an electric motor of the fan module (10). Consequently, a fan module (10) according to the invention can be quickly assembled and disassembled, allowing it to be replaced during continuing operation.

Claims

1. Fan module comprised of

a stationary fan element (1) and

a movable fan element (2), positioned with the ability to rotate, and the latter is partially enclosed by the stationary fan element (1), intended to generate an air flow, and the movable fan element (2) can be made to rotate by way of an electric motor

wherein contact surfaces (5;

41) are arranged on an outside lateral surface (4) of the stationary fan element (1) for supplying an operating voltage for the electric motor.

2. Fan module as claimed in claim 1

wherein latching media (6;

43) are envisioned on the stationary fan element (1) for latching the fan module (10;

40) inside a fan housing (9;

44), into which the fan module (10;

40) is inserted.

3. Fan module as claimed in claim 1

wherein clamping media are envisioned on the stationary fan element for fastening the fan module (10) by way of clamping into a fan housing (9), into which the fan module (10) is inserted.

4. Fan module as claimed in claim 1

wherein a function display (7) is envisioned on the stationary fan element (10) indicating the functional capabilities of the fan module (10).

5. Fan module as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 4

wherein the contact surfaces are formed by partially springy contact pins (41).

6. Fan module as claimed in claim 5

wherein the contact pins (41) are supported by a contact clip (42) that is plugged onto the stationary fan element (1).

7. Fan element as claimed in claim 6

wherein the contact clip (42) consists of a plastic injection molded part and has two springy latching sections (44) that are arranged perpendicular in relation to a middle section of the contact clip.

8. Fan housing for accommodating fan modules (10) as claimed in one of the claims 1 to 7 wherein plug-in slots are envisioned for several fan modules (10:

40) inside the fan housing (9;

44), and wherein spring or sliding contact surfaces or stationary contact surfaces are arranged in such a way that, in the inserted state of the fan module (10;

40), the spring or sliding contacts or stationary contact surfaces act in conjunction with the contact surface (5;

41) of the fan module (10;

40).

9. Fan housing as claimed in claim 8

wherein spring or sliding contacts for several fan modules (10;

40) are fastened on a joint circuit board (13;

46).

10. Fan housing as claimed in claim 6 or 9

wherein several fan modules (10;

40) can be accommodated in series and in several rows (11, 12) adjacent to each other.