JP2008144684A - Cooling rotary fan and electronic apparatus provided with the cooling rotary fan - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cooling rotary fan in which a stopping blast fin of the cooling rotary fan does not disturb cooling air from another cooling rotary fan which redundantly operates and an electronic apparatus provided with the cooling rotary fan. <P>SOLUTION: The cooling rotary fan 1 comprises a frame 11, the blast fin 12 and a rotary shaft 13. A motor is mounted on the frame 11 via a support part 11a and the rotary shaft 13 is attached to the motor. The blast fins 12 are arranged around the rotary shaft 13. Each blast fin 12 is composed of shape memorable material, lie down toward a circumference direction of a rotary direction R of the rotary shaft 13 when the rotary shaft 13 stops, and erect radial direction outward of the rotary shaft 13 by centrifugal force of the blast fins 12 when the rotary shaft 13 rotates. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cooling rotary fan and an electronic device provided with the cooling rotary fan, and since it has a heat generating member inside, requires forced air cooling by the cooling rotary fan, and in particular, a computer with a redundant cooling function The present invention relates to a cooling rotation fan suitable for use in an electronic apparatus such as an apparatus, and an electronic apparatus provided with the cooling rotation fan.

  In recent years, electronic devices such as computer devices are required to have higher performance and higher functions than ever before. For this reason, the internal temperature of the equipment has become higher due to the heat generated by electronic components such as LSI (Large Scale Integrated circuit) inside the equipment and the overall heat generated by high-density mounting. The cooling method of the member which becomes becomes one of the factors which influences the quality of an apparatus. One of the methods for improving the quality of cooling for this equipment is redundancy of the cooling function by providing multiple stages of cooling rotation fans, such as mounting multiple cooling rotation fans in series, and performing forced air cooling. It is used in most computer devices.

Conventionally, as this type of technology, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1.
In the electronic device cooling rotary fan described in Patent Document 1, the blade angle of the rotor blades of the cooling rotary fan is varied according to the ambient temperature, and an optimal amount of cooling air according to the environmental temperature is obtained. The rotor blade is made of a shape memory alloy, one end on the inner side is fixed to a rotor (rotary shaft), and the other end is freely movable.

Further, in the electronic apparatus cooling device described in Patent Document 2, when a plurality of fans are disposed in the electronic apparatus and one of these fans stops, the alarm means notifies that effect. At the same time, the electronic devices are cooled by the remaining fans. For this reason, the system is not down and the electronic device is continuously operated. Further, when all the fans are stopped, the power supply to the electronic device is cut off, and the heat generating portion of the electronic device is quickly protected.
JP 59-098599 A (2nd page, FIG. 2) Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 05-189088 (Abstract, FIG. 1)

However, the conventional electronic device has the following problems.
That is, when one of a plurality of cooling rotation fans stops due to an abnormality or the like, the blower fins of the stopped cooling rotation fans prevent cooling air from other cooling rotation fans operating redundantly, and the electronic device There is a problem that the cooling performance is lowered. In addition, when this phenomenon occurs, the cooling air of the cooling rotating fan that is normally operating redundantly hits the blower fin of the cooling rotating fan that is in a stopped state, so that the cooling rotating fan in the stopped state is forcibly rotated. There are things to do. For this reason, there is a problem that the rotation detection sensor of the cooling rotation fan that should have stopped erroneously detects the rotation of the cooling rotation fan, and an alarm indicating that it is in a stopped state is not notified. In addition, when a sheet metal member or the like around the cooling rotating fan comes into contact with the blowing fin of the rotating cooling rotating fan, the blowing fin is damaged. Therefore, cleaning the inside of the electronic device and replacing the cooling rotating fan itself. There is a problem that it is necessary. Furthermore, there is a problem in that when an assembly, inspection, or maintenance worker accidentally touches a finger or the like with the blowing fins of the rotating cooling fan in a rotating state, there is a problem of injury.

  In addition, the electronic device cooling rotary fan described in Patent Document 1 can obtain an optimum cooling air volume according to the environmental temperature, and does not improve the above-described problems.

  The electronic device cooling device described in Patent Document 2 protects the electronic device when a failure occurs in the fan, and does not improve the above problem.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and the cooling rotation fan and the cooling rotation fan in which the blower fins of the stopped cooling rotation fan do not disturb the cooling air from other cooling rotation fans that are operating redundantly. It is an object to provide an electronic device provided with the.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 relates to a cooling rotary fan having a plurality of blower fins arranged around a rotary shaft, wherein each of the blower fins is a member of the cooling rotary fan when the rotary shaft is stopped. While the rotary shaft falls down in the circumferential direction, the rotary shaft rises radially outward when the rotary shaft rotates.

  A second aspect of the present invention relates to the cooling rotary fan according to the first aspect, wherein each of the blower fins falls down in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft when the rotary shaft is stopped, while the rotation shaft rotates. It is characterized by being made of a shape memory material that rises outward in the radial direction of the rotating shaft by the centrifugal force of the air blowing fins.

  A third aspect of the present invention relates to the cooling rotary fan according to the first or second aspect, wherein each blower fin is directed toward the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft when an external force is applied during the rotation of the rotary shaft. It is characterized by being configured to fall down.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cooling rotary fan according to the third aspect, wherein each of the blower fins falls down in the same direction as the rotation direction of the rotation shaft when the rotation shaft is stopped, while the rotation shaft rotates. When the external force is applied, the rotary shaft is tilted in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotary shaft.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the cooling rotary fan according to the third aspect, wherein each of the blower fins has the rotary shaft when the external force is applied when the rotary shaft rotates or when the rotary shaft is stopped. It is characterized by being configured to fall in the direction opposite to the rotation direction.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention relates to the cooling rotary fan according to the first, second, third, fourth or fifth aspect, and is characterized in that stop detection means for detecting stoppage of rotation of the cooling rotary fan is provided. Yes.

  The invention described in claim 7 relates to an electronic device, wherein the cooling rotation fan according to claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 is provided in a plurality of stages, and the cooling air sucked by the cooling rotation fan in the first stage is provided. It is mounted in such a manner that it is ejected from the cooling rotary fan at the final stage.

  An eighth aspect of the invention relates to the electronic device according to the seventh aspect of the invention, and has a heat generating member disposed in a path through which the cooling air passes.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, each blower fin of the cooling rotary fan falls down in the circumferential direction of the rotary shaft when the rotary shaft is stopped, while radially outward of the rotary shaft when the rotary shaft rotates. For example, when used in an apparatus in which a plurality of cooling rotary fans are provided and the cooling function is made redundant, even if one cooling rotary fan stops, the cooling wind of other cooling rotary fans Can be prevented, and a decrease in cooling performance when a cooling failure occurs can be suppressed. In addition, when a certain cooling rotary fan stops, it is not forced to rotate by cooling air from other cooling rotary fans, so a stop detection signal is output from the stop detection means, and an alarm can be generated normally. it can. In addition, when an external force is applied during rotation of the rotating shaft, each blowing fin falls down in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, so that it is possible to eliminate damage to each blowing fin and injury of the operator. , Can ensure safety.

  Further, the cooling fan is provided in a plurality of stages in the electronic device, and the cooling air sucked in by the first cooling fan is mounted in a manner to be blown out from the last cooling fan. The hindrance to the passage of the cooling air can be suppressed, and even when the heat generating member is disposed in the path through which the cooling air passes, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the cooling performance when the cooling failure occurs.

  A shape memory in which each blowing fin falls down in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft when the rotating shaft is stopped, and rises outward in the radial direction of the rotating shaft by the centrifugal force of each blowing fin when the rotating shaft rotates. Provided are a cooling rotary fan made of a conductive material and an electronic device provided with the cooling rotary fan.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure of a main part of a cooling rotary fan according to an embodiment of the present invention.
The cooling rotation fan 1 of this example is comprised from the flame | frame 11, the ventilation fins 12, 12, ..., 12 and the rotating shaft 13, as shown in the figure. A motor (not shown) is attached to the frame 11 via a support portion 11a, and a rotating shaft 13 is attached to the motor. And the ventilation fins 12, 12, ..., 12 are arrange | positioned around the rotating shaft 13. As shown in FIG. In particular, in this embodiment, each blower fin 12 is made of a shape memory material, and when the rotary shaft 13 is stopped, the blower fin 12 falls down in the rotational direction R toward the same rotary shaft 13, while when the rotary shaft 13 rotates. The rotating shaft rises outward in the radial direction. The shape memory material is made of plastic, sponge, rubber or the like molded to have shape memory. In addition, when an external force is applied when the rotation shaft 13 rotates, each blow fin 12 falls down toward the rotation shaft 13 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a structure of a main part of the electronic apparatus provided with the cooling rotary fan 1 of FIG.
In this electronic apparatus, as shown in FIG. 2, the cooling rotary fan 1 is disposed in one opening portion of the cylindrical wind tunnel 21, and the cooling rotary fan 1A similar to the cooling rotary fan 1 is provided in the other opening portion. In particular, in this embodiment, the cooling air w1 sucked by the first-stage cooling rotary fan 1 is mounted in such a manner that it is discharged from the final-stage cooling rotary fan 1A as the cooling air w2. In this figure, the cooling rotation fan 1 is displayed in a normal operation and the cooling rotation fan 1A is stopped. Further, an LSI 22 is disposed in a path through which the cooling air w <b> 1 passes in the cylindrical wind tunnel 21, and a radiator 23 is disposed on the LSI 22 so as to be in close contact therewith. The cooling rotary fan 1 or 1A has, for example, a rotary encoder (not shown) that detects the rotation of the motor of the cooling rotary fan 1, and when the detection signal is not output from the rotary encoder, the cooling rotary fan 1 , 1A for detecting the stop of 1A. An alarm generator (not shown) that generates an alarm when a stop detection signal is output from the stop detectors 1a and 1aA is connected to the stop detectors 1a and 1aA.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a stopped state of the cooling rotary fans 1 and 1A, and FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a rotated state.
With reference to these drawings, the operation of the cooling rotation fan of this example and the electronic apparatus provided with the cooling rotation fan will be described.
As shown in FIG. 3, when the cooling rotary fans 1 and 1A are stopped, as shown in FIG. 4, when the blower fins 12 are tilted toward the rotary shaft 13 by the shape memory function and are in the operating rotational state, as shown in FIG. The rotating shaft 13 rotates in the rotation direction R (counterclockwise), and each blown fin 12 that has fallen rises due to the centrifugal force around the rotating shaft 13 and blows air as a normal cooling rotation fan.

  In the electronic device of FIG. 2, the cooling fins 12 of the cooling rotating fan 1 </ b> A in a stopped state fall down toward the rotating shaft 13, so that the cooling air w <b> 1 sucked by the cooling rotating fan 1 Then, it passes through the cooling rotary fan 1A and is discharged from the cylindrical wind tunnel 21 as the cooling air e2. For this reason, the obstruction | occlusion of the passage of the cooling air by the ventilation fin 12 of 1 A of cooling rotation fans is suppressed. That is, in the case where both the cooling rotation fans 1 and 1A are configured as normal cooling rotation fans, when the cooling rotation fan 1A stops, the blower fins 12 of the cooling rotation fan 1A operate redundantly and redundantly. However, in this embodiment, the cooling fins 12 of the cooling rotation fan 12A in the stopped state fall down to prevent the cooling air w2 from falling. Nothing will happen. Thereby, the fall of the cooling performance at the time of the cooling failure generation | occurrence | production in the electronic device with which the cooling function was duplexed is suppressed.

  Further, when the blowing fin 12 of the cooling rotating fan 1A in the stopped state falls toward the rotating shaft 13, the blowing fin 12 of the cooling rotating fan 1A is forcibly rotated by the cooling air w1 of the cooling rotating fan 1. It is never done. That is, in the case where both the cooling rotation fans 1 and 1A are configured as normal cooling rotation fans, when the cooling rotation fan 1A stops, the blower fins 12 of the cooling rotation fan 1A operate redundantly and redundantly. The rotation of the motor of the cooling rotation fan 1A is detected by the stop detection unit 1aA. For this reason, the phenomenon that the stop detection signal is not output and the alarm does not occur occurs, but in this embodiment, the blower fin 12 of the cooled cooling fan 1A is forcibly rotated by the pressure of the cooling air w2. Therefore, a stop detection signal is output from the stop detection unit 1aA, and an alarm is generated normally.

  In addition, when an external force is applied to the blowing fins 12 of the cooling cooling fan 1 </ b> A in the rotating state, the blowing fins 12 fall toward the rotation shaft 13 in the direction opposite to the rotation direction R. That is, when both the cooling rotation fans 1 and 1A are configured as normal cooling rotation fans, an external force is applied to the blowing fins 12 of the rotating cooling rotation fans 1 and 1A, that is, the peripheral sheet metal members are in contact with each other. In this case, since the blower fins 12 are damaged and broken pieces are scattered in the electronic device, it is necessary to clean the inside and replace the cooling rotary fans 1 and 1A themselves. Moreover, when an assembly / inspection / maintenance worker accidentally touches a finger or the like on the blowing fins 12 of the cooling cooling fan 1 or 1A in a rotating state, the fan may be injured. Even when an external force such as a peripheral sheet metal member or a human body contact is applied to the air blowing fin 12, the air blowing fin 12 falls down, so that the air blowing fin 12 is avoided from falling down. Injuries to workers and workers can be eliminated, ensuring safety.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to the embodiment, and even if there is a design change without departing from the gist of the present invention, Included in the invention.
For example, in the electronic device shown in FIG. 2, the cooling rotary fans 1 and 1 </ b> A are provided in the openings of the cylindrical wind tunnel 21, but the configuration is not limited to the configuration using the cylindrical wind tunnel 21, and cooling from the cooling rotary fan is performed. Any structure may be used as long as the heat generating member is disposed in the path through which the wind passes. Further, the number of the cooling rotary fans 1 and 1A may be an arbitrary number. In the above embodiment, the case where the cooling rotation fan 1A is stopped and the cooling rotation fan 1 is in operation has been described. Conversely, the cooling rotation fan 1A is in operation and the cooling rotation fan 1 is stopped. Even so, substantially the same operations and effects as in the above embodiment can be obtained. Moreover, in the said Example, although the rotation direction R of the rotating shaft 13 is counterclockwise, it may be clockwise. However, in this case, each blower fin 12 falls in the counterclockwise direction by the shape memory function when an external force is applied when the rotary shaft 13 rotates or when the rotary shaft 13 stops.

  The present invention can be applied to all devices that have a heat generating member such as computer devices and electronic / electrical equipment and require forced air cooling by a cooling rotary fan, and in particular, a device having a redundant cooling function. It is effective to apply to.

It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the principal part of the cooling rotation fan which is one Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the principal part of the electronic device provided with the cooling rotation fan 1 of FIG. It is a figure which shows the stop state of the cooling rotation fan 1 and 1A. It is a figure which shows the rotation state of the cooling rotation fan 1 and 1A.

Explanation of symbols

1, 1A Cooling rotation fan 1a, 1aA Stop detection unit (stop detection means)
11 frame (part of cooling fan)
12 Blower fin 13 Rotating shaft 21 Cylindrical wind tunnel 22 LSI (Heat generating member)
23 Heatsink (heat generating member)

Claims (8)

A cooling rotary fan having a plurality of blower fins arranged around a rotation axis,
The air blowing fins are
A cooling rotary fan characterized in that when the rotating shaft is stopped, the rotating shaft falls down in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft, and when the rotating shaft rotates, the rotating shaft rises outward in the radial direction of the rotating shaft. . The air blowing fins are
A shape memory material that falls down in the circumferential direction of the rotating shaft when the rotating shaft stops, and rises outward in the radial direction of the rotating shaft by the centrifugal force of the blower fins when the rotating shaft rotates. The cooling rotation fan according to claim 1, wherein the cooling rotation fan is configured. The air blowing fins are
The cooling rotary fan according to claim 1 or 2, wherein when an external force is applied during rotation of the rotary shaft, the rotary rotary fan falls down in a circumferential direction of the rotary shaft. The air blowing fins are
When the rotating shaft is stopped, the rotating shaft is tilted in the same direction as the rotating shaft. On the other hand, when the external force is applied when the rotating shaft is rotated, the rotating shaft is tilted in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the rotating shaft. The cooling rotary fan according to claim 3. The air blowing fins are
4. The cooling rotation according to claim 3, wherein when the external force is applied during rotation of the rotating shaft, or when the rotating shaft is stopped, the cooling shaft is configured to fall in a direction opposite to the rotating direction of the rotating shaft. fan.   6. The cooling rotation fan according to claim 1, further comprising stop detection means for detecting stop of rotation of the cooling rotation fan.   7. The cooling rotation fan according to claim 1, wherein the cooling rotation fan is provided in a plurality of stages, and the cooling air sucked in by the first cooling rotation fan is blown out from the final cooling rotation fan. Electronic device characterized by being made.   The electronic apparatus according to claim 7, further comprising a heat generating member disposed in a path through which the cooling air passes.

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