JP6769724B2 - Fan device and its control method - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fan device and a control method thereof, and particularly to a fan device used for airflow inside the device and a control method thereof.

In electronic devices, industrial devices, and computer devices, air flow control is performed for the purpose of cooling the heat-generating portion inside the device and cooling the inside of the device.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the device configuration of the background technology, and the device housing 101 is configured with an intake fan 102, an exhaust fan 103, and a spare fan 104 to control the air flow in the device.

Patent Document 1 relates to cooling the inside of an image forming apparatus, and it is proposed that a plurality of restricting plates whose angles can be changed are arranged to face each other on a fan for supplying cooling air. Patent Document 1 proposes to supply cooling air to a plurality of different parts to be cooled by controlling the angle of the regulating plate by an angle control device. Further, Patent Document 1 describes that a dustproof film is attached to a regulation plate, and that when cooling air comes into contact with or collides with the dustproof film, dust or the like contained in the cooling air is adsorbed and the air is purified. Has been done.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2006-126604

However, the air flow control inside the device of the electronic device of the background technology described above has the following problems.

Normally, the air flow in the device only controls the strength of the fan device because it releases the heat inside, and is almost equal to the steady air flow. In the flow of air from the same direction, dust and dirt contained in the air tend to adhere to the internal structure and dust tends to collect and collect in the portion where the vortex is generated. Accumulation of dust causes problems such as a decrease in cooling effect and a possibility of a tracking phenomenon in a place where electricity flows due to dust and humidity.

In particular, since industrial electronic devices have been used for a long period of time, there is a concern about a tracking phenomenon because dust may be accumulated inside the device in which a dustproof filter is not attached to the suction port. Even if a dustproof filter is attached, if it is blocked by dust and dirt adhering to the filter and the amount of intake is significantly reduced, dust may enter through the gaps in the device and the same condition may occur. Even if a dustproof film is attached to the regulation plate as in Patent Document 1, if dust enters through the gap of the device, the problem of dust in the device cannot be solved.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fan device for suppressing dust accumulation and dust adhesion inside an attached device, and a control method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, the fan device according to the present invention includes a fan for intake or exhaust and a plurality of fins arranged so as to face the fan, which rotate with the rotation of the fan. Including fins and.

The control method of the fan device according to the present invention is a control method of a fan device including an intake or exhaust fan and a plurality of fins arranged to face the fan, and is accompanied by rotation of the fan. Each of the plurality of fins is rotated.

According to the present invention, since the plurality of fins rotate with the rotation of the fan, it is possible to suppress the accumulation of dust and the adhesion of dust inside the attached device.

It is the schematic for demonstrating the fan apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the specific structure of the fan apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a conceptual diagram for demonstrating the moving method of the fin of the movable fin unit for agitation. (A) to (d) are conceptual diagrams for explaining a method of moving fins and a wind direction cycle of a movable fin unit for stirring. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the installation example of the fan apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating another attachment example of the fan apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating still another attachment example of the fan apparatus of embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram for demonstrating the fan control system of embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating still another attachment example of the fan apparatus of embodiment of this invention. (A) to (c) are conceptual diagrams for explaining an application example of the fan device of the embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing for demonstrating the fan device inside the electronic device of the background technology.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
First, a fan device according to the first embodiment of the present invention and a control method thereof will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic view for explaining a fan device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram for explaining a specific configuration of the fan device according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a conceptual diagram for explaining a method of moving the fins of the movable fin unit for stirring. 4 (a) to 4 (d) are conceptual diagrams for explaining a method of moving fins and a wind direction cycle of the movable fin unit for stirring.

As an example of the fan device, a movable fin unit for stirring will be described. The stirring movable fin unit 5 of FIG. 1 includes a fan 6 and a plurality of fins 7. The plurality of fins 7 are arranged so as to face the fan 6, and rotate as the fan 6 rotates. A more specific configuration of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring will be described with reference to FIG. The movable fin unit 5 for stirring of FIG. 2 will be described as having a function of the intake fan 2. The movable fin unit 5 for stirring of FIG. 2 includes a fan 6, fins 7, spur gear 8, worm gear 9, straight bevel gear 10, shaft 11, shaft 12, shaft 13, unit case 14, spur gear 15, and the like. including.

By rotating the motor of the fan 6, the fan 6 sucks air from the outside. The worm gear 9 is rotated by the configuration of the four gears of the immediate bevel gear 10, the shaft 12, and the shaft 13 attached to the shaft 11 by using the rotational force of the motor. When the worm gear 9 rotates, the spur gear 8 and the spur gear 15 that mesh with the gear rotate, and the fins 7 mounted coaxially rotate. The rotation of the fins 7 changes the flow of air taken in from the fan 6.

In the present embodiment, the worm gear 9 is used to reduce the rotation speed of the fan 6, and the fin 7 is slowed down to send air to a wide range inside the apparatus. Further, the worm gear 9 is also effective in preventing the wind force hitting the fins 7 from applying a reverse rotational force to the fan 6.

FIG. 3 shows a method of moving the fins 7, and the plurality of fins 7 rotate symmetrically with respect to the center. Each fin 7 rotates about, for example, a rotation axis parallel to its longitudinal direction. By rotating the fins 7, the linear arrangement as shown in FIG. 4A, the diffusion arrangement as shown in FIG. 4B, the right-angled arrangement as shown in FIG. 4C, and the air volume as shown in FIG. 4D The state of the fins 7 transitions as in the narrowed-down arrangement. The linear arrangement of FIG. 4A is an arrangement in which the plurality of fins 7 are substantially parallel to the direction of the wind flow caused by the fan 6. To. The diffusion arrangement of FIG. 4B is an arrangement in which the plurality of fins 7 are inclined with respect to the direction of the wind flow caused by the fan 6. The right-angled arrangement in FIG. 4C is an arrangement in which the plurality of fins 7 are substantially perpendicular to the direction of the wind flow caused by the fan 6. The air volume narrowing arrangement in FIG. 4B is an arrangement in which the plurality of fins 7 are inclined with respect to the direction of the wind flow caused by the fan 6. As a result, the air flow repeats [straight line] → [diffusion] → [right angle] → [air volume narrowing (increase)], and agitates the inside of the device to which the agitating movable fin unit 5 is attached. The plurality of fins 7 rotate 360 degrees around a rotation axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the fins 7.

Further, the rotation speed of the fin 7 can be adjusted by combining the shapes (diameter, pitch, number of teeth) of the worm gear 9 and the spur gear 8.

In the explanatory diagram (FIG. 2) of this embodiment, the basic principle is easy to understand, but it is necessary to adjust the movement of the operating fins depending on the air volume of the selected fan and the rotation speed of the motor. It should be added that it is necessary to design a movable fin unit for stirring in consideration of the case where the number and size of gear teeth and the configuration of the gear for reduction are complicated.

(Explanation of operation of embodiment)
It is conceivable that the operation execution of the present embodiment is executed at the time of starting and immediately before stopping the device, and at regular time intervals when the device is continuously operated.

In order to perform the stirring operation inside the device, at the start, the fan 6 of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring is rotated at high speed for a certain period of time to stir the dust inside. In this case, the fin 7 of the stirring movable fin unit 5 needs to rotate 360 degrees or more. When the fin 7 rotates one or more turns, the rotation of the fan 6 is returned to the normal rotation. The exhaust fan remains at normal rotation.

Next, in order to discharge the agitated dust / dust, the exhaust fan 3 is rotated at high speed for a certain period of time. After a certain period of time, the fan rotation is returned to the normal rotation.

By repeating this repetitive operation at regular time intervals, the adhesion and accumulation of dust inside the device are suppressed.

In the device used in the present embodiment, if there is a gap or the like in which dust enters from other than the intake / exhaust fan, the intake / exhaust fan is controlled so as to increase the pressure inside the device. If the pressure inside the device cannot be raised and dust enters through the gap, it shall also have a function to control the state so that it does not easily collect by adjusting the stirring time inside the device, the strength of the exhaust gas, and the fluctuation time. ..

(Explanation of effect)
In the air flow control of the background technology, all the dust and dirt that has entered from the suction port is not discharged from the exhaust port and may remain inside the device. Due to the internal structure of the device, the dust is guided to the place where the air volume is weak due to the air flow of the intake fan and the place where the vortex is generated, and the dust stays inside the device. In addition, even if the device is stopped, dust and dirt that has not been discharged remains inside the device.

As a method of improving this vicious cycle, the effect of this embodiment is to agitate all the dust and dirt that has entered from the suction port inside the device, and with a normal cooling fan, even in places where the air volume is weak or where vortices are generated. It is to change the wind flow of this unit. As a result, dust accumulation / adhesion can be suppressed.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, the fan device according to the second embodiment of the present invention and the control method thereof will be described. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an installation example of the fan device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 shows a state in which the intake fan 102 of FIG. 11 is replaced with the stirring movable fin unit 5 of the embodiment of the present invention and attached. An exhaust fan 3 and a movable fin unit 5 for stirring are attached to the device housing 1 of FIG. 5 to control the air flow in the device.

In FIG. 5, the stirring movable fin unit 5 of the present embodiment performs intake and stirring in the device. The exhaust fan 3 discharges dust and dirt inside the device. The circuit board mounted in the device is provided with a control circuit for controlling the fan according to the configuration shown in FIG. 8 (or a fan control circuit board can be attached later) to control each fan. .. FIG. 8 is a block diagram for explaining the fan control system according to the embodiment of the present invention. The fan control system of FIG. 8 includes a fan control circuit 20, a sensor unit 26, and the like. The fan control circuit 20 includes a fan power supply control unit 21, a monitoring control circuit 22, and a temperature sensor input circuit 23. The sensor unit 26 includes a high temperature device temperature sensor for a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and the like, an in-device temperature sensor, and a spare sensor. Preliminary information 25 is supplied to the monitoring control circuit 22. The preliminary information 25 is information including load information of the device, and includes a load state of the CPU, an access status to the disk device, the presence / absence of an expansion board, and the like.

A signal input from the sensor unit 26 for confirming the temperature state of the apparatus and preliminary information 25 are used for the control method of each fan including the movable fin unit 5 for stirring. Based on the input information, the power supply of each fan is controlled, and the rotation speed of the motor is adjusted for each fan.

[Third Embodiment]
Next, the fan device according to the third embodiment of the present invention and the control method thereof will be described. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an installation example of another fan device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 shows a state in which the spare fan 4 is replaced with the stirring movable fin unit 5 of the embodiment of the present invention. If the intake fan 2 cannot be replaced with the stirring movable fin unit 5, this is the configuration when the intake fan 2 is installed in a device provided with a spare fan.

In this case, it is necessary to change the control of both fans (intake fan 2 and movable fin unit 5 for stirring), but the dust inside the device can be stirred.

[Fourth Embodiment]
Next, the fan device according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention and the control method thereof will be described. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view for explaining an installation example of another fan device according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a configuration example in which the intake fan 2 cannot be replaced. For example, if the size and type of the fan (blower type, etc.) are different and installation is difficult, the fan 6 of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring of the present embodiment is rotated by using the wind power of the intake fan 2 to inside the device. Dust can be agitated.

[Other Embodiments]
As an application example of the movable fin unit for stirring according to the embodiment of the present invention, it is considered that it can be implemented even in the following cases.

As shown in FIG. 9, in the device of the background technique of FIG. 11, the movable fin unit 5 for stirring of the present embodiment is attached to both the intake fan 2 and the spare fan 4. When attached to both the intake fan 2 and the spare fan 4, the strength of control of both fans makes it possible to create a complicated stirring method inside the device and further delay the progress of dust accumulation / adhesion.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10A, by removing and fixing the fins of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring of the present embodiment, it is possible to provide a wind flow suitable for the device. For example, a region 7a or a region 7b without fins can be provided by removing one or two fins at the center of the fins 7 of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring. By removing the fin at the center of the fin 7 of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring, a linear wind flow can always be generated, and dust inside the device is agitated while cooling the heat generating portion. be able to.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10B, the duct 30 is attached to the side that blows out in the right angle direction. Depending on the installation location of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring, the wind can be sent only in a straight line direction, and if it is left as it is, the wind will collide with the wall 31 inside the device, and a smooth wind flow cannot be created. .. In this case, it is possible to change the direction of the wind and perform stirring inside the device by attaching ducts 30 on both sides of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring that is smaller than the size of the intake fan 2 and blowing out in the right angle direction. To do.

As shown in FIG. 10C, if it is not a thin propeller fan such as the intake fan 2, it may not be possible to replace it with a fan having a different shape such as a blower fan or a line flow fan. Alternatively, power may not be supplied to the fan. In this case, for example, by blowing air from the blower fan 40 to the fan 6 of the movable fin unit 5 for stirring, the fan 6 can be rotated to move the fin 7, and the air inside the apparatus can be agitated. It is possible.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited thereto. It goes without saying that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention described in the claims, and these are also included in the scope of the present invention.

Some or all of the above embodiments may also be described, but not limited to:
(Appendix 1) A fan device including a fan for intake or exhaust, and a plurality of fins arranged so as to face the fan, each of which rotates with the rotation of the fan.
(Supplementary note 2) The fan device according to Supplementary note 1, wherein the plurality of fins rotate in opposite directions with the center in the arranged direction as a boundary.
(Supplementary Note 3) The fan device according to Appendix 1 or Appendix 2, wherein the plurality of fins rotate 360 degrees or more about a rotation axis.
(Appendix 4) The fan device according to Appendix 3, wherein the rotation of 360 degrees or more is executed at the time of starting, stopping, or at regular time intervals of the device to be mounted.
(Supplementary Note 5) The fan device according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to Supplementary note 4, wherein the plurality of fins are not arranged in a part of a region facing the fan.
(Appendix 6) The plurality of fins sequentially transition between a substantially parallel arrangement, an inclined arrangement, and a substantially vertical arrangement with respect to the direction of the wind flow caused by the fan. The fan device according to any one of Supplementary note 1 to Supplementary note 5, which is controlled so that the arrangement angle changes.
(Appendix 7) A method for controlling a fan device including an intake or exhaust fan and a plurality of fins arranged so as to face the fan.
A method for controlling a fan device, in which the plurality of fins are rotated as the fan rotates.
(Supplementary Note 8) The method for controlling a fan device according to Supplementary note 7, wherein the plurality of fins are rotated in opposite directions with respect to the center of the arranged direction.
(Supplementary Note 9) The method for controlling a fan device according to Appendix 7 or Appendix 8, wherein the plurality of fins are rotated by 360 degrees or more about a rotation axis.
(Appendix 10) The method for controlling a fan device according to Appendix 9, wherein the rotation of 360 degrees or more is executed at the time of starting, stopping, or at regular time intervals of the device to be mounted.
(Supplementary Note 11) The method for controlling a fan device according to any one of Supplementary note 7 to Supplementary note 11, wherein the plurality of fins of the fan device are not arranged in a part of a region facing the fan.
(Appendix 12) The plurality of fins are sequentially transitioned between a substantially parallel arrangement, an inclined arrangement, and a substantially vertical arrangement with respect to the direction of the wind flow caused by the fan. The method for controlling a fan device according to any one of Supplementary note 7 to Supplementary note 11, wherein the arrangement angle is controlled to change.

1 Equipment chassis 2 Intake fan 3 Exhaust fan 4 Spare fan 5 Movable fin unit for stirring 6 Fan 7 Fin 8 Spur gear 9 Warm gear 10 Immediate bevel gear 11, 12, 13 Shaft 14 Unit case 15 Spur gear

Claims (8)

Between the intake or exhaust fan, the plurality of fins arranged so as to face the fan, the plurality of fins that rotate with the rotation of the fan, and the fins of the plurality of fins. Including multiple gears located
The plurality of fins are fan devices that rotate in opposite directions with the center of the direction arranged in conjunction with the rotation of the plurality of gears as a boundary. The fan device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of fins rotate 360 degrees or more about a rotation axis. The fan device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control circuit for controlling the fan executes the rotation of 360 degrees or more at the time of starting, stopping, or at regular time intervals of the device to be mounted. The fan device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the plurality of fins are not arranged in a part of a region facing the fan. The arrangement angle of the plurality of fins changes so as to sequentially transition between a substantially parallel arrangement, an inclined arrangement, and a substantially vertical arrangement with respect to the direction of the wind flow caused by the fan. The fan device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is controlled so as to be used. A method of controlling a fan device including an intake or exhaust fan, a plurality of fins arranged to face the fan, and a plurality of gears located between the fins of the plurality of fins .
The plurality of fins are rotated as the fan is rotated.
A method for controlling a fan device, wherein the plurality of fins are rotated in opposite directions with a center in a direction arranged in conjunction with the rotation of the plurality of gears as a boundary. The control method for a fan device according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of fins are rotated by 360 degrees or more about a rotation axis. The control method for a fan device according to claim 7, wherein the rotation of 360 degrees or more is executed when the mounted device is started, stopped, or at regular time intervals.

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