US20050106003A1

US20050106003A1 - Structure for a backup fan

Info

Publication number: US20050106003A1
Application number: US10/870,966
Authority: US
Inventors: Wen-Jung Fang
Original assignee: Tatung Co Ltd
Current assignee: Tatung Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-11-14
Filing date: 2004-06-21
Publication date: 2005-05-19
Also published as: JP2005147121A; TWM245513U

Abstract

An improved structure for a backup fan includes a containment case comprising a top opening and at least one containment space, each containment space has a front-side ventilation opening and a back-side ventilation opening; at least one first fan capable of being positioned in the containment space of the containment case through the top opening of the containment case; at least one second fan capable of being positioned in the containment space of the containment case through the top opening of the containment case, the second fan and the first fan placed tightly next to each other; and a top cover for covering the top opening of the containment case.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved structure for a backup fan and, more particularly, to an improved structure for a backup fan which is easily assemble, change and disassemble.
2. Description of the Related Art
Due to the high operational speeds of computer chips, it is important to provide a good heat removal system; otherwise the operational speeds of the computer chips may slow down, or the chips can even burn out. As shown in FIG. 1, a prior art fan structure has one or two fans 400 fixed on a frame 600 by screws 500, and the frame 600 is clamped to a board or a housing. However, when the fan 400 breaks, the user generally will not notice until the computer gets too hot, or until the chip burns out. Furthermore, it is not easy to disassemble the fan 400; all of the screws 500 must first be unscrewed to disassemble the fan 400 from the frame 600. Moreover, installation of a backup fan requires additional space, which is not a preferred approach for computer hardware designs.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide an improved structure for a backup fan to mitigate and/or obviate the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A main objective of the present invention is to provide an improved structure for a backup fan, which is easy to assemble, change and disassemble.
In order to achieve the above-mentioned objective, the improved structure for a backup fan of the present invention comprises a containment case comprising a top opening and at least one containment space, each containment space has a front-side ventilation opening and a back-side ventilation opening; at least one first fan capable of being positioned in the containment space of the containment case through the top opening of the containment case; at least one second fan capable of being positioned in the containment space of the containment case through the top opening of the containment case, the second fan and the first fan placed tightly next to each other; and a top cover for covering the top opening of the containment case.
Furthermore, the containment case further comprises a slot and a stay ring, the top cover comprising a pin and a fastening plug, the pin of the top cover capable of inserting into the slot of the containment case, and the fastening plug of the top cover capable of being fastened in the stay ring of the containment case. Moreover, there is a containment space, a first fan and a second fan, or alternatively, there are two containment spaces, two first fans and two second fans.
Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a structural schematic drawing of a prior art fan.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an improved structure for a backup fan of an embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an assembly schematic drawing of the backup fan according to the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an assembly schematic drawing of a top cover and a containment case according to the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic of an improved structure for a backup fan disposed in the case according to the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing of another embodiment according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The First Embodiment:
Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an improved structure for a backup fan of an embodiment according to the present invention. The improved structure of the present invention comprises a containment case 10, two first fans 20, 21, two second fans 30, 31 and a top cover 40. The containment case 10 has a top opening 11 and two containment spaces 12, 13. The containment spaces 12, 13 each have a front-side ventilation opening 121, 131 and a back-side ventilation opening 122, 132. Furthermore, the containment case 10 further comprises a slot 14 and a stay ring 15. The first fans 20, 21 can be disposed in the containment space 12, 13 of the containment case 10 through the top opening 11 of the containment case 10; the second fans 30, 31 can be positioned in the containment space 12, 13 of the containment case 10 through the top opening 11 of the containment case 10; and the second fans 30, 31 and the first fans 20, 21 are tightly placed next to each other. The top cover 40 is used to cover the top opening 11 of the containment case 10. The top cover 40 comprises a pin 41 at one end and a fastening plug 42 at the other end; the pin 41 of the top cover 40 can be inserted into the slot 14 of the containment case 10, and the fastening plug 42 of the top cover 10 can be fastened in the stay ring 15 of the containment case 10 so that the top cover 40 covers the top opening 11 of the containment case 10.
In order to install the backup fan in the case, the first fans 20, 21 and the second fans 30, 31 are first respectively placed in the containment spaces 12, 13 of the containment case 10, as shown in FIG. 3, and then the pin 41 of the top cover 40 is inserted into the slot 14 of the containment case 10, and the fastening plug 42 of the top cover 10 is fastened in the stay ring 15 of the containment case 10, as shown in FIG. 4. Finally, as shown in FIG. 5, the entire backup fan structure is mounted in a case 100.
When the first fans 20, 21 or the second fans 30, 31 become broken and need to be replaced, the case 100 first must be opened, and then the fastening plug 42 of the top cover 10 is loosened from the stay ring 15 of the containment case 10 and the pin 41 of the top cover 40 is removed from the slot 14 of the containment case 10 so that the top cover 40 and the containment case 10 are separated. A user can take out the broken fans and install new fans as described in the above steps.
The Second Embodiment:
In this embodiment, both the structure and installation process are similar to the first embodiment; the only difference is that the second embodiment only contains one first fan 200 and one second fan 300.
The advantage of the present invention is that no screws are needed for installing, and so when the user notices that the fan is broken, he or she can disassemble the fan without requiring any tools. Furthermore, the present invention requires only a small space; regardless of how many fans are installed, only one containment case is required, instead of requiring a containment case for each individual fan as in the prior art. Moreover, the structure of the present invention can be extended to accommodate additional fans to satisfy the needs of the user.
Although the present invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

Claims

1. An improved structure for a backup fan comprising:

a containment case comprising a top opening and at least one containment space, each containment space has a front-side ventilation opening and a back-side ventilation opening;

at least one first fan capable of being positioned in the containment space of the containment case through the top opening of the containment case;

at least one second fan capable of being positioned in the containment space of the containment case through the top opening of the containment case, the second fan and the first fan placed tightly next to each other; and

a top cover for covering the top opening of the containment case.

2. The improved structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the containment case further comprises a slot and a stay ring, the top cover comprising a pin and a fastening plug, the pin of the top cover capable of inserting into the slot of the containment case, and the fastening plug of the top cover capable of being fastened in the stay ring of the containment case.

3. The improved structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is one containment space, one first fan and one second fan.

4. The improved structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein there are two containment spaces, two first fans and two second fans.