EP4667754A1

EP4667754A1 - Fan cover

Info

Publication number: EP4667754A1
Application number: EP24183713.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lukasz BARUS; Bartlomiej CISAK; Jakub Korta
Original assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
Current assignee: Aptiv Technologies AG
Priority date: 2024-06-21
Filing date: 2024-06-21
Publication date: 2025-12-24
Also published as: CN121184397A

Abstract

A fan cover comprises a cover plate with a plurality of openings, wherein the openings comprise a circular opening around a center and at least one further opening that is lens-shaped.

Description

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a fan cover for an actively cooled electronic unit that is cooled by means of a fan.

BACKGROUND

Actively controlled electronic units, for example in the automotive field, need to be cooled efficiently, wherein the cooling by means of a fan may require a fan cover that prevents a person to inadvertently touch the rotating rotor of the fan. However, a fan cover generates a pressure drop in the air flow due to its restrictive geometry.
Accordingly, there is a need to provide a fan cover that optimizes a volumetric flow through the cover and that prevents an accidental contact of the fan rotor.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure provides a fan cover comprising a cover plate with a plurality of openings, wherein the openings comprise a circular opening around a center and at least one further opening, wherein the further opening is lens-shaped. Interestingly, it was found that a central circular opening and one or more lens-shaped openings allow to increase the volumetric flow through the openings in comparison to prior art designs. Openings designed in such a manner significantly reduce the pressure drop of air that is generated by a fan cover which means on the other hand that the cooling potential in an actively cooled electronic unit is maximized.
Embodiments are given in the subclaims, the description and the drawing.
According to an embodiment, the outer contour of the at least one further opening is defined by two circular arcs joined to each other at their end points. The end points may further comprise a rounded edge to minimize losses in the airflow due to turbulence and/or friction.
According to a further embodiment, the two circular arcs may comprise an outer arc with a first radius originating at the center and an inner arc with a second radius originating at a distance from the center that exceeds the first radius. To optimize the shape and the cross-section of the openings, the first radius may be larger than the diameter of the circular opening and/or the two circular arcs may have different radii. Further, it has turned out to be advantageous if the second radius is larger than the first radius and/or if the origin of each second radius is located on a circle about the center.
A fan cover that has shown good results has more than two and less than four openings that may in particular be evenly distributed about the center. A diameter of between about 4 and 8 mm of the circular opening has furthermore shown good results.
The fan cover described above may be formed as an integral part of a housing or as a separate part which may have for example a rectangular shape.
According to a further embodiment, the cover plate comprises a central part having the circular opening wherein three arms extend radially from the central part. The arms may extend from the outer circumference of the central opening and the width of the arms may gradually reduce or may be kept constant.
The fan cover may be made by means of die casting, injection molding, stamping or the like.
According to a further aspect of the present disclosure an electronic unit is provided that is cooled by means of a fan and that comprises a fan cover as disclosed above wherein the fan cover covers the fan and a maximum rotor diameter of the fan is in particular about 40 to 50 mm.

DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments and functions of the present disclosure are described herein in conjunction with the following drawing, showing schematically in:

Fig. 1: a plan view of a fan cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 depicts a fan cover 10 that comprises a cover plate 12 with a plurality of openings. In the disclosed embodiment, the openings comprise a circular opening 14 around a center C and three further openings 16, 18, 20. The further openings 16, 18, 20 are lens-shaped and are evenly distributed about the center C to respectively at an angle of 120°.
The outer contour of the lens-shaped openings is defined by two circular arcs 22, 24 that are joined to each other at their end points E, wherein the end points E may comprise a rounded edge.
The two circular arcs of each further opening 16 to 20 respectively comprise an outer arc 22 with a first radius R1 originating at the center C and an inner arc 24 with a second radius R2 originating at a distance from the center C that exceeds the first radius R1.
In the embodiment shown, the origin of each second radius R2 is located on a circle 26 about the center C. It is to be understood that the circle 26 is merely an auxiliary geometric line.
The embodiment described may have a first radius R1 that is larger than a diameter D of the central circular opening 14. Furthermore, the two circular arcs 22 and 24 may have different radii R1 and R2 wherein the second radius R2 may be larger than the first radius R1.
The diameter D of the circular opening 14 may range between about 4 and 8 mm.
As shown in Fig. 1, the cover plate 12 is designed such that three arms 28, 30, 32 extend from the outer circumference of the central opening 14 at a central part 33 wherein each arm gradually reduces its width with increasing distance from the center C.
The dimensions of the cover plate shown may be chosen as follows:

First radius R1: 15 to 20 mm
Second radius R2: 25 to 30 mm
Radius of rounded edges E: about 1 to 5 mm
Diameter D of central opening 14: 4 to 8 mm
Radius R3 of circle 26: about 30 to 35 mm

The cover plate 12 described above is designed as a rectangular and in particular quadratic panel having rounded outer corners. However, as a matter of course, the shape and the design of the panel may be chosen in dependence of the circumstances. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide the cover plate as an integral part of a housing that may accommodate an electronic unit and a fan to cool the electronic unit. In such embodiment the fan cover serves to cover the fan and in particular a rotating rotor of the fan that may have a maximum diameter of about 40 to 50 mm.

Claims

A fan cover comprising a cover plate (12) with a plurality of openings,
wherein the openings comprise a circular opening (14) around a center (C) and at least one further opening (16-20), wherein the further opening (16-20) is lens-shaped.
Fan cover according to claim 1,
wherein the outer contour of the further opening (16-20) is defined by two circular arcs (22, 24) joined to each other at their endpoints (E).
Fan cover according to claim 2,
wherein the endpoints (E) comprise a rounded edge.
Fan cover according to any one of claims 2 or 3,
wherein the two circular arcs comprise an outer arc (22) with a first radius (R1) originating at the center (C) and an inner arc (24) with a second radius (R2) originating at a distance from the center (C) that exceeds the first radius (R1).
Fan cover according to claim 4,
wherein the first radius (R1) is larger than the diameter (D) of the circular opening (14).
Fan cover according to any one of claims 4 or 5,
wherein the two circular arcs (22, 24) have different radii (R1, R2).
Fan cover according to any one of claims 4 to 6,
wherein the second radius (R2) is larger than the first radius (R1).
Fan cover according to any one of claims 4 to 7,
wherein the origin of each second radius (R2) is located on a circle (26) about the center (C).
Fan cover according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein more than two and less than four further openings (16-20) are provided.
Fan cover according to claim 9,
wherein the further openings (16-20) are evenly distributed about the center (C).
Fan cover according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the diameter (D) of the circular opening (14) is between 4 and 8 mm.
Fan cover according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the cover plate is an integral part of a housing.
Fan cover according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11,
wherein the cover plate (12) is a rectangular panel.
Fan cover according to any one of the preceding claims,
wherein the cover plate comprises a central part (33) having the circular opening (14), with three arms (28-32) radially extending from the central part.
An electronic unit that is cooled by means of a fan and that comprises a fan cover according to any one of the preceding claims that covers the fan, wherein a maximum rotor diameter of the fan is in particular 40 to 50 mm.