TWI776232B - Connector fixing structure and fan fixing frame therewith - Google Patents

Abstract

A connector fixing structure includes a structural wall, an elastic limitation part, and a connector body. The structural wall has an installation hole and a slidably engaging structure located at an edge of the installation hole. The elastic limitation part is disposed on the structural wall close to the installation hole. The connector body has another slidably engaging structure and a limitation portion. The connector body is disposed at a predetermined position by slidably engaging the two slidably engaging structures, so that the elastic limitation part constrains the limitation portion; thereby, the connector body is fixed at the installation hole. Afterward, the elastic limitation part is operable to separate the elastic limitation part from the limitation portion, so that the connector body is allowed to slide away from the predetermined position. A fan fixing frame forms a fan installation space and includes the connector fixing structure. The connector body is exposed from the fan installation space.

Description

Connector fixing structure and fan fixing frame

The present invention relates to a connector fixing structure, in particular to a detachable connector fixing structure and a fan fixing frame having the detachable connector fixing structure.

Some electronic devices, such as servers, have cooling systems that use fans to generate airflow. The power for the fan may be provided by the power module of the electronic device. The electronic device usually provides a fan fixing frame made of metal, and a power connector is provided on the fan frame for plugging in the power cord of the fan. The power connector is usually fastened to the metal frame through plastic hooks to be fixed on the fan fixing frame. The fixing structure is not easy to disassemble and assemble, and the plastic hook is easy to be pulled or scratched by the metal frame during disassembly and assembly, and even causes the hook to break. In addition, frequent disassembly and assembly will also cause fatigue damage to the plastic hook.

In view of the problems in the prior art, one object of the present invention is to provide a connector fixing structure, the connector body of which is installed in a detachable manner, and utilizes an elastic limiter to avoid structural damage when the connector body is removed damage.

The connector fixing structure according to the present invention includes a structure wall, an elastic limiting member and a connector body. The structural wall has an installation hole and a first sliding engagement structure on the edge of the installation hole. The elastic limiting member is disposed on the structural wall adjacent to the mounting hole. The connector body has a second sliding engagement structure and a limiting portion, the connector body is slidably engaged with the first sliding engagement structure in a sliding direction through the second sliding engagement structure to a predetermined position, so that the elastic limit The positioning member restrains the limiting portion to fix the connector body on the mounting hole. Wherein, the elastic limiter can be operated to make The elastic limiting member is separated from the limiting portion to allow the connector body to slide away from the predetermined position. Therefore, no matter when the connector body is installed on the structural wall, or the connector body is detached from the structural wall, through the operability of the elastic limiting member, the connection of the elastic limiting member can be avoided. Structural damage to the device body. In addition, the operability of the elastic stopper can also facilitate the repeated disassembly and assembly of the connector body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fan fixing frame, which forms a fan installation space and includes the aforementioned connector fixing structure. The connector body is exposed in the fan installation space. Similarly, whether the connector body is installed on the structural wall or the connector body is detached from the structural wall, through the operability of the elastic limiter, the connection of the elastic limiter can be avoided. Structural damage to the device body. In addition, the operability of the elastic stopper can also facilitate the repeated disassembly and assembly of the connector body.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention can be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention and the accompanying drawings.

1: Fan fixing frame

12: Frame

12a: Fan installation space

122: Top Wall

124: Sidewall

14: Connector fixing structure

142: Structural Walls

1422: Mounting holes

1424: First sliding engagement structure

1424a: Notch

1424b: convex part

1424c: Guide Plate

144: Elastic stopper

144a: Fixed end

144b: Operation Department

144c: Free end

144d: Card slot

146: Connector body

146a, 146b: Connection side

146c: plug interface

1462: Second sliding engagement structure

1462a: Stopper

1462b: Abutment

1464: Limiting part

1466: Cantilever Structure

3: Fan

3a: Connector

D1: sliding direction

D2: Deflection direction

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a fan fixing frame according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the fan fixing frame of FIG. 1 from another perspective.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the fan fixing frame in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the fan fixing frame of FIG. 1 from another perspective.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fan fixing frame along the line X-X in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fan fixing frame along the line Y-Y in FIG. 1 .

7 is a cross-sectional view of the connector body in FIG. 6 when the abutting portion of the second sliding engagement structure passes through the corresponding notch of the first sliding engagement structure.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram of the fan fixing frame in FIG. 2 elastically deflected by the elastic limiting member to separate from the limiting portion of the connector body.

See Figures 1 to 5. A fan fixing frame 1 according to an embodiment includes a frame body 12 and a connector fixing structure 14 . The frame body 12 has a fan installation space 12 a formed between a top wall 122 and two side walls 124 . The connector fixing structure 14 includes a structure wall 142 , an elastic limiting member 144 and a connector body 146 . The structural wall 142 has an installation hole 1422 and a first sliding engagement structure 1424 located at the edge of the installation hole 1422 . The elastic limiting member 144 is disposed on the structural wall 142 adjacent to the mounting hole 1422 . The connector body 146 (shown as a single entity in FIG. 5 to simplify the drawing) has a second sliding engagement structure 1462 and a limiting portion 1464 . The connector body 146 is slidably engaged with the first sliding engagement structure 1424 through the second sliding engagement structure 1462 in a sliding direction D1 (indicated by an arrow in the figure) to a predetermined position (as shown in the connector body 146 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 ). position), so that the elastic limiting member 144 constrains the limiting portion 1464 to fix the connector body 146 on the mounting hole 1422; at this time, the connector body 146 is exposed in the fan mounting space 12a. In addition, in this embodiment, the structural wall 142 is structurally integrated with the frame body 12 to form a side wall of the frame body 12a. In addition, the elastic limiting member 144 can be operated to separate the elastic limiting member 144 from the limiting portion 1464 to allow the connector body 146 to slide away from the predetermined position and then disengage from the mounting hole 1422 .

In practice, the fan fixing frame 1 can be installed in a case, and after the connector body 146 is fixed on the installation hole 1422, a fan 3 (represented by a dotted frame in FIG. 5 ) can be installed in the fan installation space 12a Among them, the power lines, control signal lines, etc., can be connected to the connector body 146 via, for example, a connector 3a. For example, the connector body 146 is a one-terminal connector having two connection sides 146a, 146b. The cable is connected to the connector body 146 at the connection side 146a, so that the connector body 146 can be connected to a system or a power module or the like via the cable to provide power and control signals. The connector body 146 has a plug port 146a on the connection side 146b, which is exposed in the fan installation space 12a, and the connector 3a is inserted into the plug port 146a to realize electrical connection.

In this embodiment, the first sliding engagement structure 1424 includes two notches 1424a, two convex portions 1424b and a guide plate 1424c, which are adjacently arranged along the sliding direction D1. The second sliding engagement structure 1462 includes A blocking portion 1462a and two abutting portions 1462b are adjacently arranged along the sliding direction D1. Please also refer to Figures 6 and 7. During the process of assembling the connector body 146 to the mounting hole 1422, the two abutting portions 1462b are aligned with the two notches 1424a, and the connector body 146 is inserted into the mounting hole 1422 perpendicular to the sliding direction D1, so that the abutting portions 1462b pass through the corresponding The notch 1424a and the stopper 1462a abut against the guide plate 1424c (as shown in FIG. 7 ). Next, the connector body 146 slides in the sliding direction D1, so that the stopper 1462a keeps abutting against the guide plate 1424c and slides parallel to the guide plate 1424c until the connector body 146 slides to the predetermined position, at which time it abuts against the guide plate 1424c. Portions 1462b abut against corresponding protrusions 1424b (as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 6). Thereby, the sliding engagement between the first sliding engagement structure 1424 and the second sliding engagement structure 1462 is achieved.

Wherein, in this embodiment, the structural wall 142 is a metal stamping plate, and the height of the protruding portion 1424b is designed to fit the distance between the abutting portion 1462b and the stop portion 1462a in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction D1, so that the abutting portion is The 1462b and the blocking portion 1462a also have the function of substantially clamping the protruding portion 1424b and the guide plate 1424c, which is helpful for the connector body 146 to be stably disposed on the mounting hole 1422. In addition, the convex portion 1424b does not protrude in a complete circle, so it is still quite elastic, which can prevent the first sliding engagement structure 1424 and the second sliding engagement structure 1462 from rubbing against each other when sliding parallel to the sliding direction D1, causing structural damage. But in practice it is not limited to this. For example, the thickness of the guide plate 1424c is equivalent to the distance between the abutting portion 1462b and the stopper portion 1462a (for example, by bending the structural wall 142 or reducing the distance between the abutting portion 1462b and the stopper portion 1462a (for example, the connector body 146 is made of plastic) The injection part can be realized simply by replacing or modifying the mold parts), and also the abutting part 1462b and the stop part 1462a can substantially clamp the guide plate 1424c when the connector body 146 slides to the predetermined position , which also helps the connector body 146 to be stably disposed on the mounting hole 1422; at this time, the convex portion 1424b can be omitted.

In addition, in this embodiment, the lower edge of the mounting hole 1422 is also provided with a structure such as the first sliding engagement structure 1424 and is symmetrical with the first sliding engagement structure 1424, and the lower side of the connector body 146 is also provided with a second sliding engagement structure 1462 correspondingly The structure is symmetrical with the second sliding engagement structure 1462, and will not be described in detail. But in practice it is not limited to this. For example, the lower edge of the mounting hole 1422 is only provided with a notch 1424a and a guide plate 1424c.

Please refer to Figure 1 to Figure 4 and Figure 8. In this embodiment, the elastic limiting member 144 has a cantilever structure, and the fixed end portion 144 a thereof is fixed to the structural wall 142 . The elastic limiting member 144 can be elastically deflected (eg, toggled by the user) in a bending direction D2 (indicated by an arrow in the figure) perpendicular to the sliding direction D1 to be separated from the limiting portion 1464 , as shown in FIG. 8 . Show. When the elastic limiting member 144 is not moved by the user, the elastic limiting member 144 can keep the stopper portion 1464 (as shown in FIG. 2 ), so as to prevent the connector body 146 from sliding in a direction opposite to the sliding direction D1 The connector body 146 falls off from the mounting hole 1422 by sliding. In addition, in this embodiment, the elastic limiting member 144 has an operating portion 144b located at the free end portion 144c of the cantilever structure and exposed to the structural wall 142 for the user to toggle (so that the elastic limiting member 144 and the The limiter 1464 is separated).

In addition, in this embodiment, the elastic limiting member 144 has a locking groove 144d. The elastic limiting member 144 is inserted into the locking slot 144d through the limiting portion 1464 to restrain the limiting portion 1464 . In addition, in this embodiment, the contour of the retaining portion 1464 is matched with the retaining slot 144d, which can increase the structural restraining effect of the retaining portion 1464 by the retaining slot 144d. But in practice it is not limited to this. For example, the elastic limiting member 144 only stops the limiting portion 1464 with a structural outer edge. For another example, the contour of the retaining portion 144d is larger than that of the retaining portion 1464, and the retaining portion 1464 can still be structurally restrained by the retaining slot 144d.

See also Figure 7. In this embodiment, the bending direction D2 is the same as the direction in which the connector body 146 is inserted into the mounting hole 1422 , so when the connector body 146 (in the bending direction D2 ) is inserted into the mounting hole 1422 , the limiting portion 1464 will be in contact with the elasticity. The limiting member 144 produces structural interference and pushes against the elastic limiting member 144 in the deflection direction D2; this process does not cause structural damage to the limiting portion 1464, the elastic limiting member 144 or other components. Next, the connector body 146 is slid in the sliding direction D1, so that the second sliding engagement structure 1462 is slidably engaged with the first sliding engagement structure 1424 (as described above); wherein, the connector body 146 is then slid in the sliding direction D1 At the same time, the limiting portion 1464 also slides in the sliding direction D1 and no longer pushes against the elastic limiting member 144 , so that the elastic limiting member 144 returns to its original position and restrains the limiting portion 1464 to prevent the connector body 146 from being reversed. slide.

In practice, the deflection direction D2 may also be different from the direction when the connector body 146 is inserted into the mounting hole 1422 . For example, the deflection direction D2 is the reverse of the sliding direction D1. At this time, when the connector body 146 is inserted into the mounting hole 1422, the user can toggle the deflection direction D2 to prevent the limiting portion 1464 from contacting the elastic limiting member 144 (ie There will be no structural interference with the elastic limiting member 144). Alternatively, the elastic limiting member 144 can be designed with an inclined surface, so that when the connector body 146 is inserted into the mounting hole 1422 , although the limiting portion 1464 will contact the elastic limiting member 144 , the elastic limiting member 146 can be pushed against the inclined surface to limit the elastic position. The piece 144 is elastically deflected. Both can avoid damage to the limiting portion 1464 and the elastic limiting member 144 .

In addition, in this embodiment, the connector body 146 has a cantilever structure 1466, and the limiting portion 1464 is disposed at the free end thereof. This structure can increase the elasticity of the limiting portion 1464 when it pushes against the elastic limiting member 144 , thereby helping to prolong the service life of the connector body 146 . In addition, the limiting portion 1464 is a protruding block, which is convenient for engaging with the engaging slot 144d of the elastic limiting member 144 .

As described above, although the present embodiment uses the fan fixing frame 1 (eg, disposed in the server) to describe the connector fixing structure 14 , the implementation is not limited to this. For example, the connector fixing structure 14 can also be applied to other situations where a connector needs to be provided on the structural wall for other devices to be plugged in, such as a power supply.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the server of the present invention can be used for artificial intelligence (English: Artificial Intelligence, AI for short) computing, edge computing (edge computing), and can also be used as a 5G server, cloud server or Internet of Vehicles server use.

The above descriptions are only preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all equivalent changes and modifications made according to the scope of the patent application of the present invention shall fall within the scope of the present invention.

122: Top Wall

124: Sidewall

142: Structural Walls

1424a: Notch

1424b: convex part

1424c: Guide Plate

144: Elastic stopper

144a: Fixed end

144b: Operation Department

144c: Free end

144d: Card slot

146: Connector body

146b: Connection side

1462b: Abutment

1464: Limiting part

1466: Cantilever Structure

D1: sliding direction

D2: Deflection direction

Claims (8)

A connector fixing structure, comprising: a structural wall with a mounting hole penetrating the structural wall and a first sliding engagement structure located at the edge of the mounting hole; an elastic limiting member adjacent to the mounting hole, the elastic limiting The component is in a cantilever structure, and includes a fixed end fixed on the structure wall; A sliding direction is slidably engaged with the first sliding engaging structure to a predetermined position, so that the elastic limiting member restrains the limiting portion to fix the connector body on the mounting hole; wherein the elastic limiting member is A deflection direction perpendicular to the sliding direction is elastically deflected, and the connector body is inserted into the mounting hole in the deflection direction, so that the limiting portion pushes against the elastic limiting member in the deflection direction, and the connector The body then slides in the sliding direction, so that the second sliding engagement structure is slidably engaged with the first sliding engagement structure. When the connector body then slides in the sliding direction, the limiting portion also slides in the sliding direction without Push the elastic limiter again, so that the elastic limiter returns to the original position to prevent the connector body from sliding in the opposite direction of the sliding direction; wherein, the elastic limiter can be operated to make the elastic limiter The member can be elastically deflected to separate from the limiting portion to allow the connector body to slide away from the predetermined position. The connector fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the elastic limiting member has a locking groove, the elastic limiting member is inserted into the locking groove through the limiting portion to restrain the limiting portion, and the locking groove is connected with the locking portion. The contour of the limit part matches. The connector fixing structure according to claim 1, wherein the connector body has a cantilever structure, the limiting portion is disposed at the free end portion thereof, and the limiting portion is a protruding block. The connector fixing structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the elastic stopper has an operation The part is located at the free end of the cantilever structure and exposed to the structure wall. The connector fixing structure of claim 1, wherein the first sliding engagement structure includes a notch, a convex portion and a guide plate, which are arranged along the sliding direction, the second sliding engagement structure includes a stop portion and a guide plate. an abutting portion arranged along the sliding direction, the connector body is inserted into the mounting hole perpendicular to the sliding direction, so that the abutting portion passes through the notch and the stop portion abuts against the guide plate, and the connection The connector body is then slid in the sliding direction, so that the stop part is kept against the guide plate and slides parallel to the guide plate, and the abutment part is slid over the convex part until the connector body slides to the predetermined location. The connector fixing structure of claim 1, wherein the connector body has two connecting sides, and when the connector body is fixed on the mounting hole, the two connecting sides are located on both sides of the structural wall. A fan fixing frame, which forms a fan installation space and includes the connector fixing structure according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the connector body is exposed in the fan installation space. The fan fixing frame according to claim 7, wherein the connector body has a plug-in port exposed in the fan installation space.

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