1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to fan assemblies, and particularly to a fan assembly with a fan shutter.
2. Description of Related Art
A fan is used for cooling a piece of equipment, such as a computer or a server. A fan shutter may cover an air outlet of the fan. The fan shutter may include a plurality of pieces to cover the air outlet, and to prevent dust entering the fan and the piece of equipment through the air outlet. The plurality of pieces are rotatable when the fan is operating, and a channel may be defined between two adjacent pieces for air flowing through. However, the pieces may be easily over-rotated and collide with each other due to poor engineering. Therefore, an improved fan assembly with a fan shutter may be desired within the art.
Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood with reference to the drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean at least one.
The bracket 20 includes a top plate 21, a bottom plate 23, two side plates 25, and a ventilation plate 27. In one embodiment, the top plate 21 is substantially parallel to the bottom plate 23 and perpendicular to the two side plates 25 and the ventilation plate 27, the two side plates 25 are substantially parallel to each other, and the two side plates 25 are substantially perpendicular to the ventilation plate 27. A receiving space (not labeled), for receiving the fan 30, is bounded by the top plate 21, the bottom plate 23, the two side plates 25 and the ventilation plate 27. Each of four corners of the ventilation plate 27 defines a first mounting hole 271.
Each of four corners of the fan 30 defines a second mounting hole 31 corresponding to the first mounting hole 271. The fan 30 defines an air outlet 33.
The cage 40 includes a front wall 41, a top wall 42, a bottom wall 43, and two sidewalls 45. The top wall 42, the bottom wall 43 and the two sidewalls 45 extend from four edges of the front wall 41. In one embodiment, the top wall 42 is substantially parallel to the bottom wall 43, and the top wall 42 and the two sidewalls 45 are substantially perpendicular to the front wall 41. The front wall 41 defines an opening 418. A rectangular first cutout (not labeled) is defined in each corner between the top wall 42 and each of the two sidewalls 45, so as to form an installation piece 401 and a blocking piece 403. In one embodiment, the installation piece 401 is substantially perpendicularly connected to the top wall 42 and the blocking piece 403, the blocking piece 403 is substantially parallel to the top wall 42 and perpendicularly connected to each of the two side walls 45. The opening 418 is round, and a size of the opening 418 is equal to the air outlet 33. The installation piece 401 defines a first pivoting hole 4011. A first securing piece 413 of the front wall 41 is exposed out of the first cutout and defines a first installation hole 4131. Each of the two sidewalls 45 defines a plurality of second pivoting holes 451.
A second cutout (not labeled) is defined in each corner between the bottom wall 43 and each of the two sidewalls 45, so as to form a mounting piece 405. The mounting pieces 405 are slanted, and an obtuse angle is defined between the mounting piece 405 and the bottom wall 43. A second securing piece 415 of the front wall 41 is exposed out of the second cutout and defines a second installation hole 4151. A plurality of limiting pieces 453 extends from each of the two sidewalls 45 and the mounting piece 405. Two restricting pieces 4051 extend towards each other from the mounting piece 405. In one embodiment, each of the plurality of limiting pieces 453 and each of the two restricting pieces 4051 are substantially parallel to the top wall 42, and each of the plurality of limiting pieces 453 is substantially perpendicular to each of the two restricting pieces 4051.
A plurality of pieces 47 can be mounted in the cage 40 by a plurality of shafts 46. Each pivot or each of the plurality of shafts 46 is rotatably engaged in opposing two of the first pivoting holes 4011 and opposing two of the plurality of second pivoting holes 451. Each of the plurality of pieces 47 is secured to each of the plurality of shafts 46. A first piece 472 (shown as in
In use, the fan 30 rotates to guide air to flow from the ventilation plate 27 to the plurality of pieces 47 through the air outlet 33. The plurality of pieces 47 are rotated by air pressure towards the top wall 42 and are blocked by the plurality of blocking pieces 453. An air channel 80 is defined between two adjacent pieces 47 for air flowing out of the fan assembly. In this position, each of the plurality of pieces 47 is substantially parallel to the top wall 42 and the bottom wall 43. When the fan 30 is switched off, the plurality of pieces 47 rotate back through gravity towards the bottom wall 43 to cover the channel 80. Thus, the opening 418 is again covered by the plurality of pieces 47 and the ingress of dust and other contaminants is prevented. Each of the plurality of limiting pieces 453 blocks the over-rotation of the plurality of pieces 47 when the plurality of pieces 47 are rotated towards the top wall 42, and each of the two restricting pieces 4051 blocks over-rotation when the plurality of pieces 47 are rotated towards the bottom wall 43. By these means, the plurality of pieces 47 are always kept in order and cannot strike or interfere with each other.
The individual weight of the first piece 472 and the two second pieces 470 are less than the similar weight of each of the others of the plurality of pieces 47. The first piece 472 and the two second pieces 470 are capable of being rotated when a power supply, connected to the fan 30, is lower than normal. Thus, some air can flow out of the opening 418, to prevent a temperature of the fan 30 from rising dangerously.
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structure and function of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in the matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the invention to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201110200310.4 | Jul 2011 | CN | national |