Patent Application
20120325431
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a heat dissipation device having a fan holder for mounting a fan onto a heat sink of the heat dissipation device, wherein the fan can be easily attached and detached.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known that during their operation, computer electronic devices such as central processing units (CPUs) can generate large amounts of heat. The heat must be quickly removed to prevent the electronic device from becoming unstable or being damaged. Typically, a heat sink combined with a fan is attached to the electronic device to dissipate heat therefrom.
Conventionally, the fan is fixed onto the heat sink with screws. However, from time to time it is necessary to detach the fan from the heat sink after dust particles have accumulated in the fan and the heat sink, so that the fan and the heat sink can be cleaned. Otherwise, the heat dissipation efficiency of the heat sink will be reduced and the lifespan of the fan will be shortened. After cleaning the fan and heat sink, the fan has to attached onto the heat sink again. Both the detaching and attaching require rotating the screws by using a screwdriver. These unscrewing and screwing operations are laborious and time-consuming. In addition, in the processes of detaching or attaching, the screws or screwdriver may be dropped and cause damage to computer components.
What is needed, therefore, is a heat dissipation device having a fan which can be easily attached to and detached from the heat dissipation device.
Referring to
The retainer 10 includes a central cylinder post 11, and four symmetrical fasteners 12 extending outwardly from the post 11. The post 11 is arranged on the electronic component to absorb the heat generated by the electronic component. Each fastener 12 defines a through hole 13 at a free end thereof. In the present embodiment, the post 11 is made of metal with good heat dissipation efficiency, such as copper. The four fasteners 12 are integrally formed as a single monolithic piece of metal.
The heat sink 20 comprises a cylinder core 21, and four symmetrical branches 22 extending outwardly from the core 21. The core 21 defines a blind hole (not shown) at a bottom thereof to receive the post 11. A plurality of fins 23 projects outwardly from the outer side surfaces of the core 21 and the branches 22. The plurality of fins 23 cooperatively define four lateral outer surfaces joined end to end, with the four lateral outer surfaces having a square configuration. Thus, the heat sink 10 correspondingly has a square configuration. The plurality of fins 23 can be divided into four groups of fins 23, with the fins 23 of the four groups oriented in four different directions. Four side surfaces of the core 21 and the four branches 22 cooperatively form four regions. Each group of the fins 23 is formed at a corresponding region. The fins 23 in two neighboring groups of the fins 23 are oriented perpendicularly to each other. Four assembly holes 24 are formed at distal ends of the four branches 22, respectively.
The fan has a square configuration, and comprises a top plate (not labeled) and a bottom plate 41 engaged with the top plate to define a frame. A rotor 42 is received in the frame.
The fan holder 30 is mounted on the heat sink 20, and includes a base 31, four clasps 34 arranged on four corners of the base 31, and four elastic portions 35 corresponding to the clasps 34, respectively. Each elastic portion 35 is arranged at the same side of the corresponding clasp 34. In the present embodiment, each elastic portion 35 is arranged at a clockwise side of the corresponding clasp 34. The four clasps 34 are centrosymmetric (and radially symmetrical) with respect to a central axis of the fan holder 30. The four elastic portions 35 are radially symmetrical with respect to the central axis of the fan holder 30. The base 31 is planar and square, and defines a substantially square opening 36 at the center thereof. In the present embodiment, the fan holder 30 is integrally formed as a single monolithic piece of metal. In other words, the base 31, the clasps 34 and the elastic portion 35 are portions of a single body formed from the same metallic material.
Each of the clasps 34 is L-shaped, and includes a first portion 341 extending upwardly from a top surface 311 of the base 31 and a second portion 342 extending perpendicularly inward from a top free end of the first portion 341. The second portion 342 is parallel to the top surface 311 of the base 31. In alternative embodiments, the second portion 342 can extend inclinedly downward from the top free end of the first portion 341. In the present embodiment, the elastic portions 35 are in the form of spring fingers. Each of the elastic portions 35 includes a first end 351 away from the corresponding clasp 34 and connected to the base 31, and an opposite, free second end 352 adjacent to the corresponding clasp 34. The second end 352 of the elastic portion 35 is located at the top surface 311 of the base 31, and includes an arced protrusion. A free end of the arced protrusion is inclined relative to the top surface 311 of the base 31. In the present embodiment, a height of the clasp 34 is higher than that of the corresponding elastic portion 35. The base 31 defines four through holes 37 corresponding to the four assembly holes 24 of the heat sink 20.
Also referring to
The fan 40 is arranged on the base 31 of the fan holder 30 in a rotationally offset position. The four corners of the bottom plate 41 of the fan 40 are pressed against the elastic portions 35 of the fan holder 30, respectively. The fan 40 is rotated anticlockwise to engage the fan holder 30 with the bottom plate 41 of the fan 40. The elastic portions 35 resiliently urge the bottom plate 41 of the fan 40 in an upward direction. As a result, the second portions 342 of the clasps 34 clasp the four corners of the bottom plate 41 of the fan 40. In other words, the four corners of the bottom plate 41 are elastically sandwiched between the elastic portions 35 and the second portions 342 of the clasps 34. Thus, the fan 40 is firmly secured on the fan holder 30.
When the fan 40 needs to be detached from the heat sink 20, the fan 40 is pressed downward and rotated clockwise to separate the bottom plate 41 of the fan 40 from the resilient clasping of the fan holder 30. Then, the fan 40 is pulled up from the fan holder 30. Thus, the fan 40 is detached from the fan holder 30.
By utilizing the clasps 34 and the elastic portions 35, the fan 40 can be easily attached to and detached from the fan holder 30.
It is to be further understood that even though numerous characteristics and advantages have been set forth in the foregoing description of embodiments, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 201110169050.9 | Jun 2011 | CN | national |
