JPH0629682A - Mechanism for cooling in electronic apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To increase air flow and restrain decrease of cooling performance, by installing a means for adjusting the angles of blades of a cooling fan, and adjusting the fan angle in the direction parallel to the axial line of an aperture surface where the fan is built in, when the fan is stopped. CONSTITUTION:Electronic parts which generate heat when a current is applied are arranged in an equipment cabinet. Cooling wind is made to circulate in the cabinet by the rotation of a cooling fan built in the aperture surface of the cabinet, and cools the electronic parts. When the fan is stopped, blades 1-4 of the fan are retained by a boss part, so as to be in parallel to the axial line of the aperture surface, i.e., the rotary shaft, and the air flow is ensured. A gear 8 is integrally installed in a unified body with the support shaft of each of the blades 1-4, so as to change the angle of each of the blades 1-4 with the rotation of the fan. The gear 8 is rotated via a gear 7 by the movement of a weight 6 which displaces outward while opposing a spring 5 by centrifugal force due to the rotation of the fan. Thereby the angle of each of the blades 1-4 is kept at a specified value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling fan for electronic equipment. Electronic devices in recent years have a dedicated resident power supply, which is different from the main power supply of the device, as a power supply for a part responsible for controlling power supply, environment, maintenance, and the like. The number of systems that continue to supply electric power for 24 hours using this resident power supply is increasing.

When the main power source of the device is turned on, a cooling device such as a fan is operated to cool both the control unit and the printed board other than the control unit. On the other hand, when the main power source is not turned on, the control unit is normally cooled by natural cooling.

If the system itself is relatively small, the control section of the electronic device can be made small, but as the system becomes larger, the control section also becomes larger accordingly. Then, the amount of heat generated increases with the increase in size of the control unit, and it becomes necessary to consider cooling by some means.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a natural cooling system is used in most cases for cooling a control unit of a computer system. However, a method in which a fan or the like is operated to forcibly cool even after the main power is turned off is rarely used.

[0005]

When the control section of the electronic device is relatively small, the control section can be effectively cooled by natural cooling. However, when the control unit is large, there is a problem that the cooling becomes insufficient if only the natural cooling is used. Further, when the forced cooling is performed by a fan or the like, there is a problem that the noise of the fan continues even after the main power of the device is turned off.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned conventional problems, and in an electronic device having a control section or the like that always operates and emits heat, even while the main power supply is cut off. Another object of the present invention is to provide an effective means for economically and sufficiently cooling a control unit or the like which generates heat.

[0007]

According to the invention, the above mentioned objects are achieved by means of the patent claims. That is, the present invention is a cooling mechanism in an electronic device having a heat-generating electronic component, which is provided with means for adjusting the angle of the blades of a fan provided on the opening surface of the device.

[0008]

As described above, when the heat generated by the controller is large, it is necessary to use some method to realize an increase in the airflow of the controller. If the increase in airflow can be realized without using a dedicated fan that always operates, the above problems can be solved.

Devices are often of a hermetically sealed construction to ensure a constant airflow. The device interface is separated from the outside by a fan or the like. The larger the opening surface of the fan, the greater the amount of air due to convection and the greater the airflow.

Therefore, a means for changing the angle of the fan blades, which is usually constant, is provided. If the fan provided with such means is provided, the amount of air passing through between the fans when the fan is stopped can be increased, so that the above-mentioned problem is solved.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the present invention, the above operation is realized by automatically controlling the angle of the fan. Figure 1
(1) is a figure which shows the fan in rotation seen from the rotating shaft direction. The angles of the blades 1, 2, 3, 4 of the fan are inclined so that the air volume is the largest. Similarly, Figure 1 (2)
[Fig. 6] is a diagram showing a rotating fan viewed from an angle of 90 degrees with respect to a rotation axis.

FIG. 2 (1) is a view showing the stopped fan as seen from the rotation axis direction. Fan blades 1, 2, 3, 4
Since the angle of is parallel to the axis of rotation, there is a large amount of air passing between the fan blades.
FIG. 2 (2) is a diagram showing the stopped fan viewed from the angle of 90 degrees with respect to the rotation axis.

3 and 4 are views showing an example of a mechanism for adjusting and controlling the angle of the blades of the fan. Figure 3
FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a dotted line portion shown in FIG. In order to change the angle of the fan blades 2, there is a gear 8 at the base of the blades.
Is attached. The gear 8 is vertically meshed with the gear 7, and the weight 6 is fixed to the gear 7 via a support rod 9.

The weight 6 is always pulled inward by the spring 5. In FIG. 3, since the fan is rotating, the weight 6 is inclined outward due to the centrifugal force. In other words, the angle of the blades 2 is always maintained at a constant angle when the fan is rotating at a constant speed or more.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the dotted line portion shown in FIG. In FIG. 4, since the fan is stopped, the weight 6 is pulled inward by the spring 5. At this time, the angle of the fan blades 2 is adjusted to be parallel to the rotation axis.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a device incorporating a conventional fan. The blade angles of the conventional fans 12 and 14 are always constant. Therefore, when the fan is stopped, the amount of air passing through between the fans 12 and 14 is small. Since the airflow is small, the conventional method cannot sufficiently cool the heat source 16 such as the above-mentioned control unit.

FIG. 6 shows an apparatus incorporating a fan according to the present invention. The blade angles of the fans 13, 15 according to the invention can be perpendicular to the opening plane. Therefore, by changing the angle of the blades while the fan is stopped, the amount of air passing between the fans 13 and 15 increases. Therefore, the heat source 17 can be cooled effectively.

[0018]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the main power supply of the device is cut off, if there is still another heat source inside the device, the heat source can be effectively cooled. Also, if a fan is used for such a heat source, the fan is unnecessary. Therefore, power consumption can be reduced and noise can be eliminated.
It has a great effect on reduction of manufacturing cost and running cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a rotating fan.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a fan that is stopped.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of a mechanism for adjusting the angle of the fan blades.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a mechanism for adjusting the angle of the fan blades.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a device incorporating a conventional fan.

FIG. 6 shows a device incorporating a fan according to the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1, 2, 3, 4 Blade 5 Spring 6 Weight 7, 8 Gear 9 Support rod 10, 11 Device 12, 13, 14, 15 Fan 16, 17 Heat source

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A mechanism for cooling in an electronic device, comprising means for adjusting an angle of a blade of a fan provided in an opening surface of the device in an apparatus having an electronic component for generating heat.