Ventilation – Electronic cabinet
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-08
2001-02-13
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3744)
Ventilation
Electronic cabinet
C361S695000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186889
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed, in general, to an assembly and method to secure and change fans in an electronic equipment chassis and, more specifically, to an easily removable fan assembly module.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A generally preferred method to cool electronic equipment is to use an internal fan to direct cooling air over the components that make up the system. The use of a fan in this fashion serves to remove heat generated while operating the system in order to avoid heat build up. If the temperature is not controlled and heat build up is permitted, the heat could cause component and system failure. Thermal control is also critical in order to extend the operating life of a system. Unregulated heat build up generally has the effect of shortening the useful life of most mechanical and electrical devices.
The use of fans for thermal control in electronic equipment is well known. However, the difficulty of installing and replacing these cooling fans can increase both the assembly and servicing costs. For instance, in the assembly of fan-cooled electronic equipment, the cost associated with attaching the cooling fan within the unit can be high given the conventional structures and associated attachment devices. In most cases the fan mechanism is typically semi-permanently mounted (by bolts, screws, rivets, or similar fastening devices) to the frame or chassis that supports the modules that make up the electronic equipment. The time required to assemble these fans and attach them within the power system using these conventional attachment systems is substantial. Thus, it takes longer to assemble the units which reduces production efficiency and ultimately increases the cost of each unit.
Moreover, replacing these semi-permanently mounted fans when they fail requires the entire system to be removed from service, which is inefficient from a cost viewpoint because it requires more man-hours to replace and re-install a new fan. For example, when a cooling fan fails, the unit must first be taken off-line. Once off-line, the unit must undergo partial disassembly in order to reach the fan and the various attachment devices, such as screws, bolts or rivets, that must be individually removed. Once the failed fan unit is removed, a new fan is installed by using the same time-consuming methods and, during this time, the electronic equipment is not in service. As is readily apparent from this common scenario, it is not cost effective to remove expensive equipment from service in order to repair or maintain a minor component due to the high demand typically placed on such units. It would be, therefore, highly desirable to be able to quickly replace a failed fan unit with a new or repaired unit as quickly as possible and also minimize manufacturing labor expense. Unfortunately, however, conventional techniques and devices do not allow for such advantages.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a robust, cost effective method to install, remove, maintain and service the cooling fan mechanisms used in power and converter systems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, the present invention provides a fan module for use with an electronic equipment chassis having a fan bay contained therein. In one advantageous embodiment, the fan module comprises a fan assembly that is electrically connectable to a power source, which is associated with the electronic equipment chassis. The fan assembly further comprises a mounting bracket that is configured or designed to be removably received in the fan bay and that is configured or designed to cradle and receive the fan assembly therein. The mounting bracket includes a latch assembly that is configured or designed to cooperatively engage the fan bay and removably retain the fan module in the fan bay.
Thus, in a broad scope, the present invention provides a modular fan assembly and mounting bracket that can be easily inserted and removed from an electronic equipment chassis. The ease with which this modular fan assembly can be inserted and removed substantially reduces the time and effort involved in installing and replacing cooling fans designed for an electronic equipment chassis and reduces manufacturing time as well. Moreover, the modularity provided by the present invention permits the electronic equipment to be quickly restored to service.
In another embodiment, the fan module includes a noise protection capacitor, which reduces the electrical noise generated by the fan. In another embodiment, the mounting bracket may include a spring clip that is configured or designed to removably engage the fan assembly and retain the fan assembly within the mounting bracket. In another aspect of the present invention, the mounting bracket may include opposing side panels that engage opposing spring clips within the fan bay to removably retain the fan module within the fan bay. In some instances, the side panels can include an anti-rattle clip that is formed in one or both of the side panels.
In one particular embodiment, the mounting bracket has a latch assembly opening formed therein, and the latch assembly is a removable slide latch that includes a base having indentations formed therein configured to cooperatively engage the latch assembly opening. In another embodiment, the mounting assembly has alignment guides to cooperatively align the fan assembly with the mounting assembly.
In another aspect, the present invention includes an electronic equipment chassis that has a fan bay for receiving the fan module that includes the fan assembly and the mounting bracket as discussed above. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the fan bay of the electronic equipment chassis includes spring clips within the fan bay to removably retain the fan module in the fan bay.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing an electronic equipment chassis having a fan bay with a fan module contained therein. The method, in one embodiment, comprises forming an electronic equipment chassis having a fan bay, forming the fan module for installation in the fan bay by: (1) providing a fan assembly electrically connectable to a power source associated with the electronic equipment chassis and (2) forming a mounting bracket configured to be removably received in the fan bay. The mounting bracket is further configured to capture and retain the fan assembly therein. Furthermore, the mounting bracket includes a latch assembly that is configured to cooperatively engage the fan bay and removably retain the fan module in the fan bay.
The foregoing has outlined, rather broadly, preferred and alternative features of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they can readily use the disclosed conception and specific embodiment as a basis for designing or modifying other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4517880 (1985-05-01), Buckner et al.
patent: 5101321 (1992-03-01), Remise et al.
patent: 5562410 (1996-10-01), Sachs et al.
patent: 5927389 (1999-07-01), Gonsalves et al.
patent: 5990582 (1999-11-01), Henderson et al.
Joyce Harold
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
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