The present application relates to the field of combined fan, and, in particular, to a combined fan structure.
Air cooling is generally used in the heat dissipation of desktop computer mainframe. The heat energy generated by the processor, graphics card and other hardware in the computer mainframe is discharged in time through the cooling fan, so as to ensure the normal and efficient operation of the computer. However, the hardwares with different configuration in the computer mainframe have different cooling requirements. As the configuration of hardware is constantly updated, the fans used for cooling of computer mainframe must be updated with upgrading of hardware configuration, in order to meet the cooling requirements of the hardware.
In order to improve the cooling effect of the fan and reduce noise, a plurality of fans are often used. In the related art, the fans of computer mainframe are usually mounted in such a way, that a plurality of small fans are fixedly mounted together on a fan carrier and the circuit between the plurality of fans is closed to form a combined fan. Then this combined fan is mounted in the computer mainframe.
Regarding to the above-mentioned related art, the inventor believes that after replacing the hardware in computer mainframe, the cooling requirements also change accordingly. However, number of fans of the combined fan is fixed and the individual fans are difficult to disassemble and assemble, therefore, the combined fan must be replaced entirely, which increases the cost.
In order to realize a combination of different numbers of fans according to actual demand, the present application provides a combined fan structure.
The combined fan structure disclosed includes a plurality of sub-fans and a connector connected between each two adjacent sub-fans of the plurality of sub-fans, wherein each of the plurality of sub-fans includes an impeller mounting shell and an impeller assembly mounted on the impeller mounting shell, each of two sidewalls of the impeller mounting shell away from each other is respectively configured with two sockets, two ends of the impeller mounting shell at each of the two sidewalls of the impeller mounting shell each are respectively configured with one of the two sockets, two sidewalls of the two sockets away from each other are each configured with an insertion opening configured for the connector to be inserted into the insertion opening of a respective one of the two sockets, two sidewalls of each of the two sockets adjacent to the insertion opening are respectively configured with a limiting bar, a limiting channel is formed between the limiting bar and a bottom of each of the two sockets, and the limiting channel is in communication with the insertion opening;
A snapping groove is defined at the bottom of each of the two sockets, the connector includes a connecting plate body and two elastic stoppers on the connecting plate body, two ends of the connecting plate body away from each other are respectively configured with an operating hole, each of the two elastic stoppers includes an elastic flap and a hook connected to the elastic flap, a first end of the elastic flap is connected to a wall of the operating hole, the hook is disposed at a second end of the elastic flap and extends out of the operating hole, and when the connecting plate body is inserted in a respective one of the two sockets, the hook can be snapped in the snapping groove.
According to the above technical solution, an end of the connector is inserted into a socket through a respective insertion opening of one of the sub-fans, wherein two sides of the connector are inserted in two limiting channels. On the one hand, the limiting bars guide the sliding of the connector, on the other hand, the limiting bars prevent the connector from sliding out of the opening of the socket. When the connector slides in the socket, the hook slidingly abuts against the bottom of the socket and pushes the elastic flap in a direction away from the socket, such that the elastic flap is elastically deformed and stores elastic potential energy. When the hook moves to the snapping groove, the elastic flap releases the elastic potential energy, such that the hook is snapped into the snapping groove. The hook is matched with the snapping groove, so as to fix the end of the connector in the socket. Another connector is inserted and fixed in another socket at the other sidewall and at the same end of the impeller mounting shell in the same way, and then the two connectors fixed on this sub-fan are respectively inserted and fixed in two sockets of another sub-fan, wherein the insertion openings of the two sockets are open to the same side, thereby realizing the joint of two sub-fans. A plurality of sub-fans can be connected in sequence to form a combined fan by repeating the above steps for many times. When the elastic flap is manually bent in a direction away from the bottom of the socket through the operating opening, the hook is pulled out from the snapping groove, so as to pull the connector out from the socket, so that one sub-fan can be detached from another sub-fan. The combination of different numbers of fans according to actual needs can therefore be easily realized.
Optionally, the impeller mounting shell includes an inner mounting bracket and an outer mounting housing, the impeller assembly is disposed on the inner mounting bracket, the two sockets are defined at the outer mounting housing, the outer mounting housing is configured with a mounting hole, the inner mounting bracket is arranged in the mounting hole, the inner mounting bracket is connected to an inner wall of the mounting hole through a plurality of connecting blocks, and a closed and communicated wiring channel is formed between a circumferential surface of the inner mounting bracket and the inner wall of the mounting hole.
According to the above technical solution, the wire for connecting a sub-fan to operate can be wound in the wiring channel, so that the entire combined fan structure is neater compared with the external wiring of the impeller mounting shell. The connecting blocks connect the inner mounting bracket and the outer mounting housing, while supporting and protecting the wires in the wiring channel.
Optionally, a wire through hole is defined at the bottom of each of the two sockets, the wire through hole is in communication with the closed and communicating wiring channel, the connecting plate body is configured with a PCB mounting groove, the PCB mounting groove and the hook are arranged on a surface at a same side of the connecting plate body, and when two of the plurality of sub-fans are connected through the connector, two of the wire through holes in the two of the plurality of sub-fans are in communication with the PCB mounting groove.
According to the above technical solution, the wire in the wiring channel can extend to the socket through the wire through hole. The wire directly enters the wire through hole in another sub-fan through the PCB mounting groove and is connected with the wire of the another sub-fan, so as to realize a circuit connection between the two sub-fans. The connecting wires are covered in the connector and are not exposed, so that the combined fan structure is neater. Alternatively, a connection terminal can be pre-mounted at the wire through hole, wherein the first end of the connection terminal is connected to the wire in the wiring channel, and the second end thereof extends into the socket. A PCB board for circuit connection can be mounted in the PCB mounting groove. When the two sub-fans are connected with each other through the connector, the PCB board mounted in the PCB mounting groove contacts the connecting terminal wires mounted on the two sub-fans simultaneously, so as to realize a circuit connection between the two sub-fans, so that the circuit connection between the two sub-fans is simple and fast.
Optionally, a blocking element is arranged in the closed and communicated wiring channel, the blocking element is clamped between the inner mounting bracket and the inner wall of the mounting hole, and the blocking element is configured to seal an opening of the closed and communicated wiring channel close to hole-openings on two sides of the mounting hole.
According to the above technical solution, dust and water stains are not easy to enter the wiring channel to pollute and corrode the wires in the wiring channel, which further improves the protection effect on the wires and the integrity of the sub-fan, such that the overall appearance of the sub-fan looks better.
Optionally, the blocking element is configured as a lampshade in the closed and communicated wiring channel, and the lampshade is clamped between the inner mounting bracket and the inner wall of the mounting hole.
According to the above technical solution, luminous light strips can be mounted in the wiring space. The lampshade protects the luminous light strips and wires in the wiring channel, and at the same time, the light emitted by the luminous light strips located in the wiring channel can pass through the lampshade to decorate the sub-fan.
Optionally, the blocking element is configured with a plurality of insertion notches, and a sectional shape of each of the plurality of insertion notches is adaptive for each of the plurality of connecting blocks.
According to the above technical solution, when the blocking element is mounted in the wiring channel, the plurality of insertion notches in the blocking element are engaged with the plurality of connecting blocks one by one, so that the lampshade is more stably mounted in such a way, that the connecting blocks limit the sliding of the lampshade in the wiring channel.
Optionally, the outer mounting housing is configured with an accommodation chamber close to a respective one of the two sockets, the wire through hole is in communication with the accommodation chamber, and a sidewall of the accommodation chamber close to the closed and communicated wiring channel is configured with a communicating hole in communication with the closed and communicated wiring channel.
According to the above technical solution, the wires in the wiring channel can enter the accommodation chamber through the communicating hole. The accommodation chamber provides a mounting space for adapters, conductive terminal wires or other control elements that connect the circuits of two sub-fans, so as to improve the space utilization inside the outer mounting housing, and at the same time, the outer mounting housing also protects the elements in the accommodation chamber.
Optionally, the inner mounting bracket includes an outer mounting frame and a mounting seat disposed in the outer mounting frame, the impeller assembly is arranged on the mounting seat and located inside the outer mounting frame, an outer sidewall of the outer mounting frame is connected to the outer mounting housing through the plurality of connecting blocks, a wire bridge is disposed between the mounting seat and the outer mounting frame, the wire bridge is configured with a wire channel, the outer mounting frame is configured with a wire hole, an opening at an end of the wire hole is in communication with the closed and communicated wiring channel, an end of the wire channel close to the outer mounting frame is in communication with the wire hole.
According to the above technical solution, the wire for connecting the impeller assembly to operate can enter the wiring channel through the wire through hole in a sub-fan, and enter the wire channel through the wire hole and is connected to the impeller assembly, which minimizes the exposure of the wires, so that the overall beauty of the appearance of the sub-fan is guaranteed, the wire is protected, and the difficulty in mounting of the sub-fan due to the messy external wires is reduced.
Optionally, the impeller mounting shell is configured with a plurality of screw holes.
According to the above technical solution, it is convenient to install the jointed combined fan at the corresponding position in the computer mainframe through screws.
The present application will be described in further detail below with reference to
The embodiment of the present application discloses a combined fan structure. Referring to
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The control wire enters the wiring channel 6 through a wire through hole 3a5 of a sub-fan 1, enters the wire bridge 314 through the wire hole 3111, is connected to the impeller assembly 4 through the wire channel 315, is arrived to the wiring channel 6 through the wire channel 315 and via the communicating hole 324, enters an accommodation chamber 322 close to the connector 2 and extends out of the wire through hole 3a5 in communication with this accommodation chamber 322, and arrives to the wire through hole 3a5 of the other sub-fan 1 through the PCB mounting groove 223. Most part of wiring of the whole wire is arranged inside the sub-fan 1. Therefore, the exposure of the wires is minimized, so that the overall beauty of the appearance of the sub-fan 1 is guaranteed and the wire is protected, meanwhile, the difficulty in sub-fan 1 installation due to the messy external wires is reduced. The accommodation chamber 322 provides mounting space for connecting terminal wires, adapters or other electronics. An elastic connection terminal can be pre-mounted at the wire through hole 3a5, wherein the first end of the elastic connection terminal located in the accommodation chamber 322 is connected to the wire in the wiring channel 6, and the second end thereof extends into the socket 3a. A PCB board (not shown in the drawings) for circuit connection can be mounted in the PCB mounting groove 223. When the two sub-fans 1 are connected with each other through the connector 2, the PCB board mounted in the PCB mounting groove 223 contacts and is connected to the connecting terminal wires mounted on the two sub-fans 1 simultaneously, so as to realize a circuit connection between the two sub-fans 1, so that the circuit connection between the two sub-fans 1 is simple and fast.
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The implementation principle of the combined fan structure in the embodiment of the present application is: two connectors 2 are respectively inserted and fixed in two sockets 3a of one sub-fan 1, wherein the insertion openings 3a1 of the two sockets are open to the same side. Then another sub-fan 1 is inserted and fixed on this sub-fan 1, so that the combination of a plurality of fans can be realized.
All of the above are preferred embodiments of the present application, and are not intended to limit the protection scope of the application. Therefore, all equivalent modification made according to the structure, shape and principle of the application should be covered by the protection scope of the application.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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202210966864.3 | Aug 2022 | CN | national |
This application is a continuation of PCT application serial No. PCT/CN2022/138746, filed on Dec. 13, 2022, which claims the priority and benefit of Chinese patent application serial No. 202210966864.3, filed on Aug. 11, 2022. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/CN2022/138746 | Dec 2022 | US |
Child | 18520504 | US |