Modular fan assembly

• US 20040028522A1
• Filed: 08/07/2002
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Original Assignee: Inventec Corporation
• Inventors: Lin, Shu-Ju, Tzeng, Yih-Wei
• Granted Patent: US 6,752,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/66
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 19/007 multistage fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 25/166 using fans
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/547 having a special shape in order to influence fluid flow

Abstract

The present invention is to provide a modular fan assembly mounted in an electronic device comprising a frame having a defined opening for air circulation; at least two spaced apart fans disposed within the frame, each fan having a stator and a plurality of blades attached to the stator; and a divider disposed between the fans for partial separation wherein an outer end of the divider is smaller than a depth of the frame, thereby leaving a distance between the outer end of the divider and an outer surface of the frame so that an area of the opening for an escape of air from the fans is increased for effectively reducing a resistance of air flow and obtaining a maximum draft by means of the divider.

Claims

1. A modular fan assembly mounted in an electronic device, comprising:

a first frame having a defined opening for air circulation;

at least two spaced apart first fans disposed within the first frame, each first fan having a stator and a plurality of blades attached to the stator; and

a divider disposed between the first fans for partial separation wherein an outer end of the divider is smaller than a depth of the first frame, thereby leaving a first distance between the outer end of the divider and an outer surface of the first frame so that an area of the opening for an escape of air from the first fans is increased.

2. The fan assembly of claim 1, further comprising:

a second frame formed tandem with the first frame, the second frame having a defined opposite opening for air circulation;

at least two spaced apart second fans disposed within the second frame, each second fan being coaxially with the corresponding first fan and having a stator and a plurality of blades attached to the stator thereof; and

a second divider disposed between the second fans for partial separation wherein an outer end of the second divider is smaller than a depth of the second frame, thereby leaving a second distance between the outer end of the second divider and an outer surface of the second frame.

3. The fan assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least two sets of a plurality of vanes attached to the stator of each first fan, each set of the vanes being disposed between the tandem first and the second fans wherein an orientation of a curved surface of each vane is opposite to that of the blade of each first fan so that air is parallel sucked into the opening prior to leaving the opposite opening by passing through the first fans for bringing air to the vanes for guiding into the blades of the second fans.

4. The fan assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least two sets of a plurality of vanes attached to the stator of each second fan, each set of the vanes being disposed between the tandem first and the second fans wherein an orientation of a curved surface of each vane is opposite to that of the blade of each second fan so that air is parallel sucked into the opening prior to leaving the opposite opening by passing through the first fans for bringing air to the vanes for guiding into the blades of the second fans.

5. The fan assembly of claim 1, wherein the first distances is measured at a critical point for rendering a smallest pressure drop of air circulating in the fan assembly.

6. The fan assembly of claim 2, wherein the second distances is measured at a critical point for rendering a smallest pressure drop of air circulating in the fan assembly.