Patent Application
20100054920
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a fan assembly and particularly to a fan assembly having a fan guard protecting the fan from contamination and damage during operation.
2. Description of Related Art
Fans are widely used in many systems which generate heat and need to maintain a normal working temperature. Often, fans are mounted to the systems via fan holders.
A conventional fan assembly includes a fan and a fan duct attached thereto. The fan commonly includes an airflow inlet and an airflow outlet. The airflow outlet faces a heat sink and the airflow inlet faces the fan duct so that the airflow produced by the fan flows along a predetermined direction from the fan duct to the heat sink. However, the blades of the fan are exposed and rotate rapidly when the fan is operated, and are thus easily subject to contamination, as well as potentially dangerous to contact during operation.
Therefore, what is needed is a fan assembly having a fan and a fan guard that overcomes the shortcomings described.
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a fan assembly includes a fan and a fan guard positioned thereon to protect the fan from contamination and damage during operation. The fan includes a plurality of upper corners extending outwardly therefrom. The fan guard includes a frame and a cover covering and fastened to the frame. The frame includes a plurality of protrusions extending downwardly therefrom and a plurality of fastening feet extending upwardly therefrom. The protrusions engage the upper corners of the fan to secure the frame to the fan. The cover comprises a spring component surrounding a bottom thereof and located to have a resilient engagement with the fastening feet of the frame. A plurality of porous are defined in the cover for airflow produced by the fan to pass therethrough, wherein the cover of the fan guard can protect the fan from contamination and damage during operation.
Other advantages and novel features will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Many aspects of the present embodiments can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
Referring to
The fan 10 comprises a hollow body 12 and a motor 14 received in the body 12. The body 12 is square with four lower corners 122, and four upper corners 124 extending outwardly and horizontally therefrom. The lower corners 122 are spaced from and opposite to the upper corners 124. A mounting hole 120 is defined in each of the lower and upper corners 122, 124 and the mounting holes 120 of the upper corners 124 engage the fan guard 20.
The fan guard 20 has a frame 22 and a cover 24 covering and tightly fastened to the frame 22. The frame 22 is square and defines an opening (not labeled) in a center thereof, provided for airflow from fan 10. Four flanges 220 extend outwardly and horizontally from each corner of the frame 22. Four protrusions 222 extend perpendicularly and downwardly from a lower face of the flanges 220 of the frame 22. The protrusions 222 correspond to the mounting holes 120 of the upper corners 124 of the fan 10, respectively, for insertion thereinto. A plurality of engaging ribs 2220 are formed on an outer sidewall along an axis of each of the protrusions 222 and evenly spaced from each other along a circumference of each of the protrusions 222. The engaging ribs 2220 engage an inner surface of a corresponding upper corner 124 of the fan 10 surrounding the mounting hole 120 of the corresponding upper corner 124 of the fan 10. A pair of rectangular slots 224 are defined in the lower face of each of the flanges 220, symmetrical to each other relative to each of the protrusions 222, thereby allowing a tool to engage the lower face of each of the flanges 220 of the frame 22 of the fan guard 20, for removal of the frame 22 from the fan 10. Four pairs of fastening feet 226 extend upwardly from an inner circumference of the frame 22, engaging the cover 24. The fastening feet 226 are interconnected with each other via an annual rib 225, above and parallel to the flanges 220. A plurality of radiating ribs 227 extends radially and inwardly from the annual rib 225 towards the center of the frame 22, interconnected via a ring (not labeled) to surround a circular hole in the center of the frame 22. The radiating ribs 227 divide the opening of the frame 22 into several parts.
The cover 24 is gauze or netting and defines a plurality of pores 240 therein, allowing passage of airflow from fan 10 whilst protecting the fan 10 from contamination when airflow passes through the cover 24. Moreover, the cover 24 protects the fan 10 from damage during operation. The cover 24 comprises a spring component, such as an annular spring 242 surrounding a bottom of the cover 24 and attached to the cover 24. The annular spring 242 exerts force to impel the bottom of the cover 24 onto and attached to the fastening feet 226 of the frame 22; the cover 24 is thus tightly and resiliently positioned on the frame 22. Furthermore, the cover 24 of the fan guard 20, is gauze or netting and thus can also reduce noise produced by the fan 10.
In assembly, the protrusions 222 of the frame 22 of the fan guard 20 enter the mounting holes 120 of the upper corners 124 of the fan 10 and the fan guard 20 is firmly positioned on the fan 10. In this fixed position, the engaging ribs 2220 of the protrusions 222 of the frame 22 of the fan guard 20 tightly abut the inner surfaces of the upper corners 124 surrounding the mounting holes 120 of the upper corners 124 of the fan 10, wherein the protrusions 222 of the fan guard 20 are fully engaged by the upper corners 124 of the fan 10, firmly securing the fan guard 20 to the fan 10.
For removal of the fan guard 20 from the fan 10, the frame 22 of the fan guard 20 is raised upwardly when a force applied to the slot 224 of the frame 22 of the fan guard 20 moves to disengage the protrusions 222 of the frame 22 from the upper corners 124 of the fan 10. Thus, disassembly of the fan guard 20 from the fan 10 is also simplified.
In use, the airflow produced by the fan 10 passes through the cover 24 of the fan guard 20 towards the fan 10, whilst the fan guard 20 installed on the fan 10 protects the motor 14 from contamination and damage during operation.
It is believed that the present embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples hereinbefore described merely being preferred or exemplary embodiments of the invention.
