JP2004071752A - Cooling fan device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a fan case from being deformed even if any force is applied to the fan case by attaching members for attaching a cooling fan device to a heat generating element, in the cooling fan device where the fan case is mounted on a heat sink. <P>SOLUTION: The cooling fan device comprises the heat sink 2 having a radiating fin 22 on the surface of a base member 21, and the fan case 1 for supporting a cooling fan which supplies the cooling air flow to the heat sink 2. The fan case 1 comprises an upper wall 11 and at least a pair of engaging parts 12, 12' hanging from the side end of the upper wall 11. Supporting members 14 having contact with the upper wall 11 and the base member 21 are arranged between both to prevent the fan case 1 with the supporting members 14 from being deformed by any external force. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fan cooling device that cools a heating element such as an electronic component.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In the past, when mounting a fan cooling device on a heat-generating electronic component such as a CPU, a structure that fixes the heat sink was often used until now, but a structure that fixes the entire fan cooling device including the fan case has recently been adopted. It is getting. In general, the fan case is made of a resin material, and has a drawback such that the fan case is deformed, for example, bent when an external force is applied. Therefore, when the heat sink is manufactured by extrusion molding, the heat radiation fins are formed long so that the tip contacts the back surface of the upper wall of the fan case when the fan case is mounted on the heat sink, and the fan case is deformed with the heat radiation fins. I was holding it down.
[0003]
However, in extrusion molding, the thickness and shape of the radiating fins that can be formed are limited, and with the recent increase in the speed of the arithmetic processing of the CPU, the heat generation that continues to increase is sufficiently removed by the radiating fins by extrusion molding. I couldn't. Therefore, a heat sink has been proposed in which a thin plate-shaped heat radiation fin (crimp fin) formed by press molding is implanted in a groove formed on a base substrate made of Cu or the like. According to such a heat sink, the thickness of the radiation fins can be reduced, so that the number of radiation fins per unit area can be increased, and the radiation fins and the base member can be made of different materials. As a result, the heat radiation area can be increased, and the heat radiation amount and heat radiation efficiency of the heat sink can be dramatically increased.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the crimp fin is thin, it is easily deformed by an external force, and cannot support the fan case like the heat radiation fin by extrusion molding. Further, when the crimp fins are deformed, the flow path of the wind from the cooling fan changes, and a sufficient cooling effect cannot be obtained.
[0005]
Further, as shown in FIG. 5, a protrusion 12a is provided on the inner end of the engaging portion 12 of the fan case 1, an engaging hole 213 is provided on a side surface of the heat sink, and the protrusion 12a is fitted into the engaging hole 213. Accordingly, when the fan case 1 is mounted on the heat sink 2, when the upper wall 11 of the fan case 1 is bent by an external force, the distal end of the engaging portion 12 expands outward, so that the protrusion 12 a is The fan case 1 was detached from the heat sink 2 in some cases.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of such a conventional problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fan cooling device that is not easily deformed even when a force is applied to a fan case by the attachment member. .
[0007]
It is another object of the present invention to smoothly flow wind from a cooling fan between radiating fins to efficiently cool a heating element.
[0008]
It is a further object of the present invention to prevent the engagement between the fan case and the heat sink from being released even when the fan case is deformed.
[0009]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, a fan cooling device according to the present invention includes a heat sink having a radiation fin provided on a surface of a base member, and a fan case for supporting a cooling fan for supplying an air flow for cooling to the heat sink. , The fan case has an upper wall, at least a pair of engaging portions hanging down from a side end of the upper wall, a support member is provided between the upper wall and the base member, the support member contacting both. The support member prevents deformation of the fan case due to external force.
[0010]
Here, in order not to hinder the flow of air from the cooling fan, it is preferable that the shape of the support member is cylindrical.
[0011]
Also, from the viewpoint of reducing the thickness of the heat radiation fins and increasing the heat radiation area, and increasing the heat radiation amount and heat radiation efficiency of the heat sink, the base member and the heat radiation fins are separated, and the heat radiation fins are implanted in the base member. It is desirable to use a heat sink.
[0012]
Further, in order to prevent the engagement between the fan case and the heat sink from being released even if the fan case is deformed, the base member is provided with side walls on two opposing surfaces of the fan case and opposing a lower end surface of the side walls. It is preferable that an engaging groove is formed on the surface of the heat sink so that when the fan case is mounted on the heat sink, the lower end of the side wall is fitted into the engaging groove.
[0013]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
The present inventors have conducted intensive studies to suppress deformation of the fan case due to the force applied by the mounting member when the fan cooling device is mounted on a heating element such as a CPU using the mounting member. The present invention has been found that the deformation of the fan case can be prevented by providing the support member between the upper wall and the base member so as to contact both of them.
[0014]
Hereinafter, the fan cooling device of the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing one embodiment of the fan cooling device of the present invention. The fan cooling device of FIG. 1 includes a heat sink 2 and a fan case 1 detachably attached to the heat sink 2. The fan case 1 is formed between a substantially square upper wall 11, two pairs of engaging portions 12, 12 ′ hanging down from opposing side surfaces of the upper wall 11, and the engaging portions 12, 12 ′. It has a side wall 13. A protrusion 131 (shown in FIG. 3) is formed at the lower end of the side wall 13. Further, protrusions 12a are formed at the distal ends of the engaging portions 12 and 12 'so as to protrude inward. As will be described later, the fan case 1 is detachably attached to the heat sink 2 by fitting the protrusions 12a into engagement holes 213 formed in the heat sink 2.
[0015]
A support member 14 is formed integrally with the upper wall 11 at the center of each of the two sides of the upper wall 11 without side walls. A circular opening 15 is formed in the center of the upper wall 11, and four pillars 16 are erected at an outer edge of the circular opening 15 at equal angles in the circumferential direction. A bar 17 protrudes toward the center from the upper end of each support column 16 and supports a support disk 18 coaxially located above the circular opening 15. A cooling fan (not shown) is attached to an internal space formed by the support columns 16, the crosspiece 17, and the support disk 18, and a space between the crosspieces 17 is a suction opening 19 for sucking cooling air. . The cooling fan can be removably mounted in the space, and the fan cooling device of the present invention can be used semi-permanently by replacing the cooling fan.
[0016]
In the fan case 1 of FIG. 1, the support member 14 is provided at the center of two sides of the upper wall 11 to which external force is applied without the side wall. There is no particular limitation as long as it is between. However, in order to more effectively prevent deformation of the fan case 1 due to external force, it is recommended to provide the fan case 1 on the back surface of the upper wall portion to which external force is applied. The number of support members provided is not limited, and may be appropriately determined based on the magnitude of external force to be applied, the material and thickness of the support members, and the like.
[0017]
The shape of the support member 14 is not particularly limited as long as the support member 14 is in contact with the upper wall 11 of the fan case 1 and the base member 21 of the heat sink 2 when the fan case 1 is mounted on the heat sink 2. . Further, a shape that does not obstruct the flow of air from the cooling fan as much as possible is preferable, and for that purpose, a column shape or a cylindrical shape having a circular or elliptical plane cross section is preferable.
[0018]
In the fan cooling device of FIG. 1, the support member 14 is formed integrally with the fan case 1, but may be formed integrally with the heat sink 2. Further, the support member 14 may be manufactured independently and attached to the fan case 1 and the heat sink 2.
[0019]
As a material of such a fan case, a material having heat resistance, such as engineered plastic, having a low coefficient of thermal expansion and excellent dimensional stability is preferable. Among them, saturated polyester is preferable from the viewpoint of ease of processing and molding, and polybutadiene terephthalate (PBT) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) reinforced with glass fiber are particularly preferable. The content of the glass fiber may be appropriately determined based on the required mechanical strength and dimensional stability, but is generally in the range of 10 to 40% by weight, particularly preferably in the range of 25 to 35% by weight. There is no particular limitation on a method for manufacturing a fan case using such a material, and a conventionally known molding method such as injection molding can be used.
[0020]
On the other hand, the heat sink 2 has a base member 21 made of Cu and a large number of radiation fins 22. On the upper surface of the base member 21, a plurality of linear grooves 211 for inserting and fixing the radiation fins 22 are formed at predetermined intervals. Further, when the fan case 1 is mounted on the heat sink 2, the position of the base member 21 facing the lower end surface of the side wall 13 of the fan case 1 has substantially the same outer shape as the protrusion 131 (shown in FIG. 3). An engagement groove 212 is formed. An engagement hole 213 for mounting the fan case 1 is formed on a side surface of the base member 21. In order to form the grooves 211, the engagement grooves 212, and the engagement holes 213, for example, the base member 21 may be manufactured and then cut, or may be integrally formed with the base member 21 using a mold.
[0021]
The heat radiation fins 22 are formed of a substantially rectangular thin plate as shown in FIG. 1, and the material thereof is preferably one having a high thermal conductivity, for example, alumina. The attachment of the radiation fin 22 to the base member 21 is performed by inserting the radiation fin 22 into a groove 211 formed on the upper surface of the base member. Here, as shown in FIG. 2, a notch 221 having the same width as the length of the groove 211 may be provided on the lower side of the radiation fin 22 in order to prevent the displacement of the radiation fin 22. An adhesive may be used to further firmly fix the base member 21 to the base member 21. Further, in the heat sink 2 of FIG. 1, the width of the heat radiation fins 22a in the central portion is made shorter than that of the other heat radiation fins 22b, and the upper surface of the base member 21 is exposed so that the support member 14 can contact the base member 21. I have.
[0022]
In the heat sink 2 of FIG. 1, so-called crimp fins to be inserted into the base member 21 are used as the radiation fins 22, but there is no particular limitation on the radiation fins that can be used. it can. Among these, the crimp fin shown in FIG. 1 is preferable because the thickness of the heat radiation fin can be reduced to increase the heat radiation area, and the heat radiation amount and heat radiation efficiency of the heat sink can be increased.
[0023]
In FIG. 1, when the fan case 1 is mounted on the heat sink 2, as shown in FIG. 3, the engaging portions 12, 12 'of the fan case 1 are positioned on both sides of the base member 21 of the heat sink 2, In this state, the fan case 1 is moved downward toward the heat sink 2. First, the protrusions 12a at the tips of the engaging portions 12, 12 'abut on the side surfaces of the base member 21 and slightly spread outward. When the projection 12a reaches the engagement hole 213, the projection 12a is fitted into the engagement hole 213 by the elastic restoring force of the engagement portions 12, 12 '. Thus, the fan case 1 is detachably attached to the heat sink 2. At this time, the protrusion 131 formed at the lower end of the side wall 13 also fits into the engagement groove 212 formed in the base member 21. As a result, even if the fan case 1 is deformed, the projections 12a do not come off the engagement holes 213 because the side walls 13 suppress the outward spread of the distal ends of the engagement portions 12, 12 '.
[0024]
When removing the fan case 1 from the heat sink 2, the engagement portions 12 and 12 ′ are pressed somewhat outward to release the engagement between the projections 12 a and the engagement holes 213, and the fan case 1 is removed from the heat sink 2. Should be moved upward. In the fan cooling device of FIG. 3, the projections 12 a are provided on the engagement portions 12 and 12 ′ of the fan case 1, and the engagement holes 213 are provided on the base member 21. Alternatively, a projection may be provided on the heat sink 2 so that both can be engaged. Further, as the engaging member, a conventionally known member can be used, and for example, a concave portion and a claw portion may be used. In the fan cooling device of FIG. 3, two pairs of engaging portions 12 and 12 ′ are provided on the upper wall 11 of the fan case 1. However, the number of engaging portions is not limited, and one pair or Of course, three or more pairs are acceptable.
[0025]
FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of mounting the fan case 1 on the heat sink 2. In the fan cooling device of FIG. 4, the engaging portion 12 extends from the center of the lower portion of the side wall 13 of the fan case 1, and a projection 12 a is formed inside the distal end portion of the engaging portion 12. Further, convex portions 131a and 131b are formed on the lower end surfaces of the side walls 13 on both sides of the engaging portion 12, respectively. On the other hand, a concave portion 214 is formed in the center of the side surface of the base member 21 of the heat sink 2, and an engaging hole 213 is formed in the side surface of the concave portion 214. On the upper surface of the base member 21, engagement grooves 212a and 212b are formed at positions facing the protrusions 131a and 131b of the side wall 13.
[0026]
When the fan case 1 is mounted on the heat sink 2, the fan case 1 is directed downward toward the heat sink 2 so that the tip of the engaging portion 12 of the fan case 1 is inserted into the recess 214 of the base member 21 from above. Move. Then, the protrusion 12a at the tip of the engaging portion 12 contacts the side surface of the concave portion 214, and the engaging portion 12 spreads somewhat outward. Then, when the protrusion 12 a reaches the engagement hole 213 on the side surface of the concave portion 214, the protrusion 12 a is fitted into the engagement hole 213 by the elastic restoring force of the engagement portion 12. At this time, the protrusions 131a and 131b at the lower end of the side wall 13 also fit into the engagement grooves 212a and 212b of the base member 21, respectively. Thus, the fan case 1 is detachably attached to the heat sink 2.
[0027]
In the embodiments described above, the protrusion 131 formed at the lower end of the side wall 13 is fitted into the engagement groove 212 of the base member 21, but the lower end of the side wall 13 is engaged without forming the protrusion 131. It may be fitted in the mating groove 212. Further, the shapes of the opposing side walls 13 and the engaging portions 12 are not necessarily the same, and if the fan case 1 can be detachably attached to the heat sink 2, the opposing side walls 13 and the engaging portions 12 may have different shapes. Of course it doesn't matter.
[0028]
In such a fan cooling device, when a cooling fan (not shown) is driven to rotate in a predetermined direction, the air sucked from the suction opening 19 of the fan case 1 flows along the radiation fins 22 by the action of the blades. On the other hand, heat from a heating element such as a semiconductor element is conducted to a plurality of radiation fins 22 via the base member 21 of the heat sink 2. Then, when the sucked air flows along the radiating fins 22, heat moves from the radiating fins 22 to the air. In this way, the heat in the heating element moves from the heat sink 2 to the air flow and is radiated into the air.
[0029]
As described above, the embodiments of the fan cooling device of the present invention have been described. However, the present invention is not limited to these embodiments at all, and various changes and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. .
[0030]
【The invention's effect】
In the fan cooling device of the present invention, since the support member is provided between the upper wall of the fan case and the base member so as to be in contact with both, deformation of the fan case due to external force can be effectively prevented.
[0031]
Further, when the shape of the support member is cylindrical, the air from the cooling fan is not obstructed by the support member, and the heat radiation efficiency is not reduced.
[0032]
When the base member and the radiation fins are formed separately, and the radiation fins are implanted in the base member to form a heat sink, the thickness of the radiation fins can be reduced and the number of radiation fins implanted can be increased. Thereby, the heat radiation area can be increased, and the heat radiation amount and heat radiation efficiency of the heat sink can be increased.
[0033]
Side walls are provided on two opposing surfaces of the fan case, and an engagement groove is formed on the surface of the base member facing the lower end surface of the side wall. If the fan case is deformed, the fan case can be prevented from being detached from the heat sink.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an assembled perspective view showing an example of a fan cooling device of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view showing an example of a radiation fin.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an engagement state between a fan case and a heat sink.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another engagement state between the fan case and the heat sink.
FIG. 5 is a state diagram showing that the fan case is bent by an external force and the engagement with the heat sink is released.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fan case 2 Heat sink 11 Upper wall 12, 12 'Engagement part 12a Projection 13 Side wall 14 Support member 21 Base member 22 Radiation fin 212 Engagement groove 213 Engagement hole 214 Depression 221 Notch

Claims (4)

In a fan cooling device including a heat sink provided with a radiation fin on a surface of a base member, and a fan case supporting a cooling fan for supplying an air flow for cooling to the heat sink,
The fan case has an upper wall, and at least a pair of engaging portions hanging down from a side end of the upper wall,
Providing a support member between the upper wall and the base member, which is in contact with both,
A fan cooling device, wherein deformation of the fan case due to external force is prevented by the support member. The fan cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the support member has a columnar shape. The fan cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the base member and the heat radiation fins are separate bodies, and the heat radiation fins are implanted in the base member to form a heat sink. Along with providing a side wall on two opposing surfaces of the fan case, an engaging groove is formed on a surface of the base member facing a lower end surface of the side wall,
The fan cooling device according to claim 1, wherein when the fan case is mounted on the heat sink, a lower end portion of the side wall is fitted into the engagement groove.

Images