JP6531485B2 - Fan and electronic equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fan and an electronic device.

  In an electronic device such as a server, a fan for cooling the inside of a housing is provided. In the housing, precision parts that are weak to vibrations such as hard disks are provided, and there is a risk that the precision parts may break due to the vibration of the fan.

  Therefore, various vibration isolation structures have been proposed for preventing transmission of fan vibration to the housing.

JP 2011-133553 A

  By the way, since the fan is a component that is often replaced due to a failure, it is preferable that the fan be configured so that the operator can easily perform the replacement operation.

  However, when the vibration isolation structure is provided as described above, the structure of the fan becomes complicated due to the vibration isolation structure, which may make it difficult to replace the fan.

  The technology disclosed herein has been made in view of the above, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an easily replaceable fan and electronic device having an anti-vibration function.

According to one aspect of the following disclosure, four pillars respectively provided at four corners of a virtual square and four holes into which the pillars are inserted are provided at intervals, and each of the pillars is In the state of being inserted into the hole, an elastic elastic ring stretched between the columns and a square shape fitted to the ring, the ring being interposed between the adjacent columns A fan is provided having a housing with an angled portion inscribed therein and a vane housed within the housing.

  According to the following disclosure, it is possible to provide an easily replaceable fan and electronic device having a vibration isolation function.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic device used in the study. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a frame subjected to anti-vibration measures. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame with the fan housed therein. FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the frame. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fan provided with a rubber bush to take anti-vibration measures. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electronic device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7 is a front view of the fan according to the first embodiment viewed from the downstream side of the wind. FIGS. 8 (a) to 8 (c) are schematic plan views for explaining the force generated in the ring of the elastic body according to the first embodiment. FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining the action of the pressing force in the first embodiment. FIG. 10: is a front view which shows typically a mode that the ring | wheel which concerns on 1st Embodiment absorbs a vibration. FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the mounting method of the housing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 12 is a front view (part 1) for describing the mounting method of the housing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 13 is a front view (part 2) for describing the mounting method of the housing according to the first embodiment. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of four columns and a ring according to a second embodiment. Fig.15 (a), (b) is an enlarged front view for demonstrating how to stretch a ring in 2nd Embodiment. FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a housing and blades according to a third embodiment. FIG. 17 (a) is an enlarged plan view of the wheel according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 17 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 17 (a). FIG. 18 is an enlarged front view of a ring and its surroundings according to a fourth embodiment. FIG. 19 is an enlarged front view for explaining another example of the recess according to the fourth embodiment.

  Prior to the description of the present embodiment, matters to be considered by the inventor of the present application will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the electronic device used for the examination.

  The electronic device 1 is, for example, a server, and includes a housing 2 and an electronic component 6 such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) accommodated therein.

  A fan 3 is provided on the front of the housing 2 to cool the electronic component 6. The fan 3 is accommodated in the frame 4 which can be attached to and detached from the housing 2. When the fan 3 is replaced, the frame 4 is pulled out of the housing 2. In this example, since the frame 4 is released upward, the fan 3 can be easily inserted into the frame 4 from above, and the replacement work of the fan 3 becomes easy.

  Furthermore, the housing 2 also accommodates a precision component 5 that is susceptible to vibration, such as a hard disk.

  In actual use, the vibration generated by the rotation of the fan 3 is transmitted to the precision component 5, and the electronic component 5 may fail due to the vibration. For example, when the hard disk is used as the precision component 5 as described above, writing and reading may not be performed on the hard disk in some cases.

  Such problems become apparent when the generation of the electronic device 1 advances and the vibration characteristics of the fan 3 such as the vibration amplitude and the vibration period change from the current state. For example, the vibration characteristics of the fan 3 may change when the number of rotations of the fan 3 is increased more than the current state, or when the fan 3 of a vendor different from the current state is adopted.

  In order to prevent the precision component 5 from being broken due to the vibration of the fan 3, it is effective to take anti-vibration measures on the fan 3.

  Although the inventor of the present invention examined some anti-vibration measures, there is room for improvement as described below.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the frame 4 on which the anti-vibration measures have been taken.

  The frame 4 has a fan guard 4a and a back panel 4b both having breathability, and a space for accommodating the fan 3 is secured between them.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the frame 4 in which the fan 3 is accommodated.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the fan guard 4 a is located in front of the fan 3 to prevent an operator from touching the rotating fan 3.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the frame 4 from which the above-mentioned fan guard 4a is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in this example, an elastic sheet 11 made of rubber, sponge or the like is attached to the inner surface of the frame 4 as a measure against vibration.

  As a result, the elastic sheet 11 is interposed between the fan 3 (see FIG. 3) and the frame 4 so that the elastic sheet 11 absorbs the vibration generated by the fan 3 and makes the transmission to the frame 4 difficult. be able to.

  However, attaching the elastic sheet 11 to the frame 4 is troublesome for the operator.

  In addition, although three elastic sheet 11 are used in this example, it is assumed that more elastic sheets 11 must be used to prevent the vibration of the fan 3 from being directly transmitted to the frame 4. In that case, the burden will be further imposed on the worker.

  Furthermore, if there is an error in the external shape of the fan 3, the fan 3 and the elastic sheet 11 will not be in close contact with each other. In this case, backlash occurs between the fan 3 and the elastic sheet 11, and it becomes difficult for the elastic sheet 11 to absorb vibration.

  On the other hand, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the fan 3 in which the anti-vibration measures are taken by two rubber bushes 9 instead of the elastic sheet 11 described above.

  A screw thread (not shown) is provided on the outer peripheral side surface of the bush 9, and the operator twists the bush 9 in the housing 2 to fix the fan 3 to the housing 2.

  Since the rubber bush 9 has a property of absorbing vibration, this structure can reduce the vibration transmitted from the fan 3 to the housing 2.

  However, screwing the bush 9 into the housing 2 is troublesome for the operator, and replacement of the fan 3 takes time. Furthermore, if the bush 9 falls in the middle of replacement, the bush 9 may be lost.

  Hereinafter, the present embodiment will be described.

First Embodiment
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the electronic device according to the present embodiment.

  The electronic device 21 is, for example, a server, and includes a housing 22, a precision component 25 housed therein, and an electronic component 26.

  Among these components, the precision component 25 is a component that is susceptible to vibration, such as a hard disk, for example. The electronic component 26 is a component capable of arithmetic processing, such as a central processing unit (CPU) or a graphical processing unit (GPU), and generates heat during use.

  In order to generate a wind A for cooling the electronic component 26, a plurality of fans 23 are provided on the front surface of the housing 22.

  FIG. 7 is a front view of the fan 23 viewed from the downstream side of the wind A. FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the fan 23 includes a mesh-like resin back panel 28 through which the wind A passes and four columns 29 erected on the back panel 28.

  Each support column 29 is integrally formed with the back panel 28 made of resin, and is disposed at the four corners of a virtual square R set on the back panel 28. Each support column 29 may be a separate part from the back panel 28.

  Then, an expandable elastic ring 30 is stretched between the adjacent columns 29. The ring 30 is, for example, a rubber band manufactured by injection molding of rubber, and a tube 30a into which each support column 29 is inserted is formed at the time of molding.

  In addition, the ring 30 is hung on the support column 29 in a state of being extended from its natural length, and the ring 30 has generated a contraction force to return to the natural length.

  A square housing 31 is fitted in the wheel 30. The housing 31 has a square shape for accommodating the blades 32, and includes four corners 31a.

  Thus, it is preferable to adopt a commercially available product from the viewpoint of cost reduction as the housing 31 provided with the blades 32. In the case of a commercially available product, the length of one side of the housing 31 is, for example, about 30 mm to 150 mm, and one side of the virtual rectangle R is also set to the same length.

  Then, when the blades 32 rotate around the rotation axis C in the housing 31, a wind A (see FIG. 6) for cooling the electronic component 26 is generated.

  Further, the housing 31 is supported by the wheel 30 by the corner portion 31 a being inscribed in the wheel 30 between two adjacent columns 29.

  According to this, the housing 31 can be supported by the wheel 30 while being separated from the columns 29. As a result, it is possible to absorb the vibration when the blade 32 is rotated by the elasticity of the wheel 30, and to prevent the vibration from being transmitted to the precision part 25 (see FIG. 6) through the support column 29.

  8 (a) to 8 (c) are schematic plan views for describing the force generated on the elastic ring 30. As shown in FIG.

Among these, FIG. 8A is a schematic plan view of the wheel 30. FIG. In the state of FIG. 8A, the ring 30 does not extend from its natural length, and its inner diameter is _{d d} .

And FIG.8 (b) is a model top view of the circular object 33 with which the ring | wheel 30 is fitted. The inside diameter _{D D of the} object 33 is assumed to be larger than the inside diameter _{d d of the} wheel 30.

  FIG. 8C is a schematic plan view when the wheel 30 is fitted to the object 33. As shown in FIG.

As described above, since the inner diameter Φ _D of the object 33 is larger than the inner diameter _{d d of} the wheel 30, a force to contract is generated in the wheel 30, and thereby a pressing force F is applied to the object 33 from the wheel 30.

  In particular, since the object 33 is axially symmetrical with respect to its center G, the magnitude of the pressing force F is constant regardless of the location of the wheel 30.

  FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining the action of the pressing force F. As shown in FIG. In this example, the case where the center 34 of the housing 31 is shifted from the center 35 of the virtual rectangle R due to vibration is illustrated.

  Similar to the circular object 33 (see FIG. 8 (b)), the imaginary square R is also axially symmetrical. Therefore, even if the respective centers 34 and 35 of the housing 31 and the virtual rectangle R deviate in this manner, the direction of the arrow E of the housing 31 is such that the magnitude of the pressing force F becomes constant regardless of the location of the wheel 30. Move to As a result, even if the housing 31 vibrates, its center 34 can always be positioned near the center 35 of the virtual rectangle R.

  FIG. 10 is a front view schematically showing how the wheel 30 absorbs vibration.

  As shown in FIG. 10, a gap S exists between the support column 29 and the housing 31. The presence of the gap S enables the housing 31 to vibrate without touching the support column 29, and the vibration is attenuated by the wheel 30.

  Next, a method of mounting the housing 31 on the wheel 30 will be described.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view for explaining the mounting method of the housing 31. As shown in FIG. 12 to 13 are front views for explaining the method of mounting the housing 31. FIG.

  First, as shown in FIG. 11, the operator pushes the tube 30 a into each of the four columns 29 while spreading the wheel 30.

  At this time, the ring 30 has a square shape in which the columns 29 are disposed at the four corners.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 12, the worker fits the housing 31 into the wheel 30. As described above, the housing 31 has a square shape substantially identical to the wheel 30, and at this time, the corner 31a of the housing 31 approaches each of the columns 29.

  Then, as shown in FIG. 13, the worker rotates the housing 31 by 45 ° around the rotation axis C. Thereby, the wheel 30 is pushed and spread by the corner 31a of the housing 31, and a pressing force F is applied from the wheel 30 to the corner 31a. Then, the housing 31 is supported by the pressing force F, and the mounting of the housing 31 to the wheel 30 is completed.

  According to this mounting method, the housing 31 can be easily mounted on the wheel 30 simply by rotating the housing 31 after the housing 31 is fitted on the wheel 30 as shown in FIGS. Can be significantly reduced.

  When the housing 31 is removed from the wheel 30 as in the case where the blade 32 breaks down, the housing 31 may be rotated in the opposite direction to the above. Thereby, since the housing 31 is released from the contraction force of the wheel 30, the housing 31 can be easily removed from the wheel 30, and the burden on the operator can be further reduced.

  Furthermore, since the wheel 30 expands and contracts in accordance with the outer shape of the housing 31, even if there is an error in the outer shape of the housing 31, the error can be absorbed by the wheel 30, and the housing 31 can be supported by the wheel 30.

  Furthermore, even if the vibration characteristic of the housing 31 changes from the current state as the generation of the electronic device 1 advances, the change of the vibration characteristic is absorbed by the expansion and contraction of the wheel 30. Therefore, it is not necessary to redesign the wheel 30 each time the generation of the electronic device 1 changes, and it is also possible to realize cost reduction of the electronic device 1.

Second Embodiment
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 11, the tube 30 a is pushed into the support column 29. In the present embodiment, the ring 30 is stretched between the columns 29 without pushing in this way.

  FIG. 14 is a perspective view of four columns 29 and a wheel 30 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 14, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted below.

  As shown in FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, each support column 29 is provided with a fitting recess 29 a that is open toward the outside of the wheel 30. The shape of each column 29 is not particularly limited, but in this example, each column 29 is V-shaped in a front view.

  Further, the ring 30 is provided with a fitting convex portion 30 b that protrudes inward. The fitting convex portion 30 b has a substantially triangular shape in a cross sectional view, and fits with the fitting concave portion 29 a described above.

  FIG. 14 exemplifies a state in which the wheel 30 is extended in a circular shape, and in actual use, the fitting concave portion 29a and the fitting convex portion 30b are in close contact with each other by the contraction force of the wheel 30. 30 becomes a square shape which makes each support | pillar 29 four corners.

  FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b) are enlarged front views for explaining how the wheel 30 is stretched.

  In order to stretch the ring 30, first, as shown in 15 (a), the operator aligns the fitting recess 29a with the fitting protrusion 30b.

  And as shown in FIG.15 (b), the ring | wheel 30 is hung on the support | pillar 29 so that the fitting convex part 30b may be fitted in the fitting recessed part 29a.

  By performing such an operation on each of the four columns 29, the wheel 30 can be stretched on each column 29a.

  According to this method, the operation of pushing the tube 30a of the wheel 30 into the column 29a as in the first embodiment is unnecessary, and it is possible to prevent the column 29a from being broken due to the pushing operation.

  In addition, since the fitting convex portion 30b is fitted in the fitting concave portion 29a in a very short time, the wheel 30 can be hooked on all the columns 29 substantially simultaneously, thereby further shortening the working time. it can.

Third Embodiment
In the first and second embodiments, a rubber ring is used as the elastic ring 30, but in the present embodiment, an elastic body other than the rubber ring is used as the ring 30 as follows.

  FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the housing 31 and the blade 32. FIG.

  In FIG. 16, the same elements as those described in the first embodiment and the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first embodiment and the second embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted below. The same applies to FIGS. 17A and 17B described later.

  As shown in FIG. 16, a joint pipe 37 extending along the rotation axis C of the blade 32 is provided at the corner 31 a of the housing 31. In this example, the length of the joint pipe 37 is Z.

  FIG. 17 (a) is an enlarged plan view of the wheel 30 according to this embodiment, and FIG. 17 (b) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II of FIG. 17 (a).

  As shown in FIGS. 17A and 17B, in the present embodiment, a rubber band having a flat shape in plan view is used as the ring 30. By making the wheel 30 flat, the contact area between the wheel 30 and the joint tube 37 is increased, and the housing 31 is stably supported by the wheel 30.

  Although the width W of the ring 30 is not particularly limited, it is preferable that the width 30 be smaller than the length Z of the joint pipe 37 so that the ring 30 does not protrude from the end of the joint pipe 37.

Fourth Embodiment
In the present embodiment, the housing 31 is prevented from coming off the wheel 30 as follows.

  FIG. 18 is an enlarged front view of a wheel 30 according to the present embodiment and the periphery thereof.

  In FIG. 18, the same elements as those described in the first to third embodiments are given the same reference numerals as those in these embodiments, and the description thereof will be omitted below.

  As shown in FIG. 18, in the present embodiment, a recess 30 c that fits into the joint tube 37 of the corner 31 a is provided inside the wheel 30.

  As a result, it is possible to prevent the housing 31 from unintentionally rotating and coming off the wheel 30 due to an impact at the time of transportation of the electronic device 21 (see FIG. 6) or at the time of an earthquake.

  Moreover, when the housing 31 is rotated as shown in FIG. 12 to FIG. 13, when the joint pipe 37 is fitted in the recess 30 c, a click feel is transmitted to the worker, and a sense of security that the housing 31 is securely attached to the wheel 30 It can be given to workers.

In order to fit the joint tube 37 securely in the recess 30 c, the width _{R R} of the recess 30 c is made larger than the diameter 37 _E of the joint tube 37, and the shape of the recess 30 c is curved following the surface of the joint tube 37. Is preferred.

  The shape of the recess 30c is not limited to this.

  FIG. 19 is an enlarged front view for explaining another example of the recess 30 c.

In this example, two projections 30d are provided on the inside of the wheel 30, and the projections 30d form the recess 30c. In this case, the joint pipe 37 can be reliably fitted in the recess 30 c by setting the distance L between the projections 30 d larger than the diameter _{E E} of the joint pipe 37.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1, 21 ... Electronic device, 2, 22 ... Housing | casing 3, 3, 23 ... Fan, 4 ... Frame, 4a ... Fan guard, 4b, 28 ... Back panel, 5, 25 ... Precision parts, 6, 26 ... Electronic parts, 9: Bush, 11: Elastic sheet, 29: post, 29a: joint recess, 30: ring, 30a: tube, 30b: joint projection, 30c: recess, 30d: projection, 31: housing, 31a: Corners, 32 ... vanes, 33 ... objects, 37 ... joint pipes.

Claims (5)

Four pillars provided at the four corners of the virtual square,
Four elastic holes into which each of the columns is inserted are provided at intervals, and in a state where each of the columns is inserted into the holes, a stretchable elastic body stretched between the respective columns. And the
A square-shaped housing fitted to the ring, the housing having a corner inscribed in the ring between the adjacent columns;
A blade housed in the housing;
A fan characterized by having.   The post has a cylindrical shape,
  The fan according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the hole has a circular shape corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the column.   The fan according to claim 1, wherein the ring is a flat band. It further includes a joint pipe provided at the corner so as to extend along the rotation axis of the blade,
The fan according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a recess in which the joint pipe is fitted is formed inside the ring. And
An electronic component housed in the housing;
Four columns respectively provided at four corners of a virtual square in the housing;
Four elastic holes into which each of the columns is inserted are provided at intervals, and in a state where each of the columns is inserted into the holes, a stretchable elastic body stretched between the respective columns. And the
A square-shaped housing fitted to the ring, the housing having a corner inscribed in the ring between the adjacent columns;
A blade housed in the housing and generating a wind for cooling the electronic component;
Electronic equipment characterized by having.